Kurdistan Oil & Gas Belongs to Kurdistan NOT Iraq

[Anthea]

UK Court Orders Genel Energy

to Pay KRG $26.8 Million

Genel Energy announced on Friday that an arbitration tribunal has ordered its subsidiary, Genel Energy Miran Bina Bawi Limited (GEMBBL), to pay the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) US$26.8 million for recoverable legal costs

The ruling stems from a London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) claim initiated by the KRG in December 2021 concerning the Bina Bawi and Miran Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs).

According to the statement released by Genel Energy, the tribunal's Final Award on Costs mandates the payment of the $26.8 million sum plus post-award interest.

The interest will be calculated at a rate of the one-month US Dollar LIBOR (or its replacement, SOFR) plus 2%, compounded monthly, starting from the date of the final award.

Genel Energy noted in its announcement that the awarded amount "is less than the sum of approximately $36 million originally claimed by the KRG." The company stated it had previously disclosed the KRG's initial claim figure.

The award concludes the cost recovery aspect of the arbitration process governed by the LCIA Rules and the UK's Arbitration Act (1996).

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/879824

[Anthea]

Calls to Resume Kurdistan Oil Exports

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Col. Myles B. Caggins III, spokesperson for the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), emphasized on Monday the urgent need for agreement to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan Region via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which has been shut down since March 2023

Speaking to Kurdistan 24, Caggins noted, “We are reporting our annual production numbers through quarterly shareholders' meetings and earnings reports.”

However, he warned that current market conditions are unsustainable. “Oil produced in Iraqi Kurdistan is currently sold locally at around $30 per barrel—less than half the $65 to $70 per barrel it could earn on the international market,” Caggins explained. “Selling oil locally does not maximize revenue for our companies or contribute to Iraq’s overall economic prosperity.”

Before the halt in exports, the Kurdistan Region was sending over 400,000 barrels of oil daily through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. With the pipeline idle, local refineries are the only buyers, converting crude into domestic fuels like gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. While necessary, Caggins emphasized that local demand cannot replace the benefits of global sales.

Caggins said APIKUR member companies remain open to dialogue and are eager to restart exports. “We are ready to meet with both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government of Iraq,” he stated. “Several meetings have already taken place, and we welcome the Ministry of Oil’s call for another.”

He stressed that future exports must be backed by clear, enforceable agreements. “We need clarity on how we will be paid. These are complex financial transactions, but not new to the federal government, which has long managed similar arrangements in federal Iraq.”

One ongoing challenge is the appointment of an international consultant to assess production and transportation costs, as stipulated in Article 12 of Iraq’s budget amendment. “APIKUR member companies must be involved in reviewing and approving the consultant’s scope of work,” Caggins noted. “This is a basic expectation for any business subject to an external financial evaluation.”

He also reiterated the need for equal treatment of companies operating in the Kurdistan Region. “Our contracts with the KRG are legal, recognized by London courts of arbitration, and have been upheld by Iraqi courts,” Caggins said. “These agreements must be respected, and production-sharing terms clearly defined.”

Caggins praised efforts by both Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani to resolve the issue. “Prime Minister Barzani has actively engaged leaders in Baghdad, Ankara, and Washington. It’s clear that reopening the pipeline is a top economic priority,” he said.

Despite official Iraqi statements indicating that exports would resume imminently, no oil has yet flowed through the pipeline. “For us, written agreements must come first. We cannot risk sending oil without knowing when and how we’ll be paid,” Caggins said.

APIKUR continues to push for constructive dialogue and meaningful outcomes. “We’ve made our position clear: Our companies are ready. It’s time for action,” he concluded.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... ugh-turkey

[Anthea]

US Urges Resumption

of KRG Oil Exports

The United States issued its strongest call yet for the resumption of Kurdish oil exports, as State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Wednesday urged the Iraqi federal government and other parties to restart operations of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP), which has remained closed since March 2023

“It is critical that the Government of Iraq and all potential parties agree to restart the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline’s operations,” Bruce told Kurdistan 24, in a statement that marked a clear show of US support for the position of the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR).

APIKUR, which represents international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region, had recently accused Baghdad of unilaterally changing the terms of existing contracts—effectively blocking the resumption of exports. The group issued a detailed complaint two weeks ago, accusing the federal Oil Ministry of acting in bad faith.

Bruce’s remarks were prompted by a question from Kurdistan 24’s Washington DC bureau chief during a State Department briefing on Tuesday. She took the question and responded the following day via email.

In her written response, Bruce emphasized that Iraq’s delay in reopening the pipeline is harming both regional stability and US economic interests.

“The pipeline’s two-year closure stifles Iraq’s economic development, inhibits the region’s economic stability, and threatens the American energy jobs which this pipeline supports,” she said.

She further stressed that “the Government of Iraq must honor the terms of existing contracts with US companies,” signaling Washington’s backing of APIKUR’s demand for Baghdad to respect prior agreements.

“The United States stands ready to advance US business opportunities in Iraq, if all sides move quickly to resolve the issue and immediately reopen the pipeline,” Bruce concluded. “The ITP plays a critical role in sustaining the energy economy of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and benefits the American companies that operate there.”

Kurdish oil exports through the ITP have been suspended since an International Chamber of Commerce ruling last year. Despite ongoing discussions, no agreement has yet been reached to resume the flow—delaying billions of dollars in revenue and straining relations between Erbil, Baghdad, and foreign investors.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/880329

[Anthea]

KRG, Baghdad Discuss Oil Export

Delegations from both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi federal government met with international oil companies in Erbil on Sunday to discuss the long-delayed resumption of the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports

Omed Sabah, Head of the Diwan of the Kurdistan Region’s Council of Ministers, confirmed the meeting in a statement, saying the discussions centered on the operations of oil-producing companies and the potential for restarting exports.

“The meeting discussed the activities and operations of the oil producing companies. Both sides discussed the issue of resuming the Region’s oil exports with the oil companies. Furthermore, the views of the oil production companies on this matter were heard,” he said.

The meeting comes after a planned gathering in Baghdad on Saturday between representatives of the Iraqi Oil Ministry, the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR) was postponed.

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani, speaking at the 9th Sulaimani Forum last week, emphasized the importance of restarting Kurdistan’s oil exports “as soon as possible.”

He added that the exports are a key component of Iraq’s federal budget and that ongoing talks for more than a year have aimed to find a mechanism to resume shipments through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.

“The resumption of the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports is fundamentally part of Iraq’s budget,” Abdul Ghani stated.

“There is a significant need to resume oil exports, diversify support for Iraqi resources, and improve [the situation] for both governments.”

Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have been suspended since March 2023, following a ruling by an international arbitration court in Paris that halted exports via Turkey.

Despite several rounds of negotiations, no final agreement has been reached between the KRG and the federal government to restart the flow of oil.

Sunday’s meeting in Erbil marks the latest effort in a series of discussions aimed at breaking the deadlock and restoring a vital source of revenue for both Erbil and Baghdad.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/881329

[Anthea]

KRG Reaffirms Commitment to Oil Export

The Kurdistan Government (KRG) Council of Ministers reaffirmed on Wednesday that the KRG has fully met its obligations to resume oil exports and that there are no remaining obstacles from the Region’s side preventing the process

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, reviewed the latest developments surrounding oil export negotiations with the federal government.

Acting Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Mohammed Saleh presented a report detailing recent talks with Baghdad and oil companies. He emphasized that the KRG has fulfilled all necessary steps under the First Amendment to Iraq’s Federal General Budget Law, including the deposit of oil revenues into the federal treasury.

The Council of Ministers reiterated its support for ongoing coordination between the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, SOMO, and oil companies, urging swift resolution of outstanding issues to resume exports and prevent further financial losses to the public treasury.

Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have been suspended since March 2023 following a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce in favor of Baghdad, which stated that Turkey had violated a joint agreement by allowing the KRG to export oil independently.

Since then, negotiations have been ongoing to find a federal-regional mechanism that satisfies both constitutional requirements and the financial needs of the Kurdistan Region. The export halt has strained the KRG's budget, delaying public sector salaries and hindering economic development.

In January 2025, the Kurdistan Region's presidency emphasized that the KRG had met all obligations to resume oil exports and was fully prepared to restart them. The suspension, resulting from a Paris-based arbitration court ruling, has led to substantial losses for the Iraqi treasury, estimated at around $15 million. Both Erbil and Baghdad continue to negotiate to reach an agreement that ensures mutual benefit from vital oil revenues.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/882335

[Anthea]

Baghdad Illegally Blocking Exports

Kurdistan’s Minister of Natural Resources, Kamal Muhammad Salih, said the federal government continues to obstruct oil exports from the Region in defiance of the constitution, Iraqi laws, and even rulings by the country’s own courts

In a statement released Monday, the Ministry said the Minister made the remarks during separate meetings in Erbil with Atila Tos, Hungary’s Consul General, and Rafael Movsesyan, Armenia’s Consul General.

“The Iraqi federal government, contrary to the constitution, law, and even the decisions of Iraqi courts, has created obstacles to the export of Kurdistan Region’s oil,” the Minister said. “There is no problem with the Region’s oil contracts with the companies, but Iraq is not willing to pay the rights, guarantees, and production costs of the companies.”

According to the Ministry, both diplomats expressed support for efforts to resolve the ongoing disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.

Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have remained suspended since March 25, 2023, following a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce in favor of Iraq against Turkey. The decision halted the KRG’s independent oil exports, which had accounted for around 400,000 barrels per day

The suspension has deepened long-standing tensions between Erbil and Baghdad over natural resource management. While the federal government demands all exports be handled through the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), the KRG maintains it has the constitutional right to manage its own resources.

The ongoing impasse has had severe economic consequences for the Kurdistan Region, including delayed salary payments for public employees and rising public discontent.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/886609

[Anthea]

Kurdistan-Baghdad Oil Talks Positive Agreement

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — Sherwan Dubardani, a member of Iraq's Parliament, announced on Friday that negotiations between a Baghdad delegation and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) resulted in a constructive agreement concerning the export of oil from the Kurdistan Region. Speaking to Kurdistan24, Dubardani provided details about the meeting and the next steps in legislative and financial coordination

“On Thursday, the Baghdad delegation arrived in the Kurdistan Region and began meetings with the Region at 5:00 PM. Both sides reached a very positive outcome and made a good agreement on the issue of oil exports,” Dubardani said.

The parliamentarian noted that follow-up meetings will begin next week between the KRG delegation and oil companies, focusing on the recently amended legislative project that incorporates the so-called “$16 agreement.”

“The Kurdistan Region’s delegation, along with oil companies, will begin meetings next week and will continue to work on the legislative project which was recently amended to include the $16 agreement,” he said.

Dubardani underscored the importance of legal and mutual adherence by both governments:

“As we voted for, the KRG must adhere to the agreement and implement it as law, and Baghdad must also respect this law. Furthermore, the companies that signed contracts with the KRG—those contracts are legal.”

He also addressed the current silence from federal authorities in Baghdad:

“So far, the Baghdad government has not issued any statements, because the KRG is ready for all of them. A financial delegation is also coming to Kurdistan—about 50% of it consists of personnel from the Kurdistan Region’s Finance Ministry—and the Region remains committed.”

Looking ahead, Dubardani stressed the importance of continuity in the engagement between Baghdad and Erbil, especially with elections on the horizon.

“The arrival of this delegation should continue, due to the upcoming elections. Right now, the elections for Iraq’s Council of Representatives are very important, and all Iraqi political parties have prepared themselves.”

He concluded with a pointed critique of Iraq’s broader political discourse:

“Iraqi political parties have done nothing for their constituents and regions, and instead, for political purposes, they repeat the same old rhetoric to the people and other areas of Iraq, saying, ‘The Kurdistan Regional Government is not committed.’”

The recent developments mark a significant moment in the protracted negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad, with implications for regional oil revenue management, legal recognition of energy contracts, and the broader political landscape ahead of national elections.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/84 ... p-confirms

[Anthea]

Baghdad, Erbil Near Deal to
Resume Kurdistan Oil Exports

Iraqi lawmaker Shwan Mohammed announced on Saturday that a comprehensive agreement between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is nearing completion, which would restart Kurdistan Region’s oil exports through the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) and resolve the ongoing public employee salary crisis

In a statement to local Iraqi media, Mohammed explained that under the new agreement, the KRG’s oil will be exported via SOMO, with the Iraqi Federal Ministry of Finance responsible for paying the operating oil companies directly.

Guarantees will be put in place to ensure smooth implementation without political or administrative obstacles.

“The success of this agreement will have a direct impact on resolving the salary issue and will pave the way for addressing the broader financial disputes between Erbil and Baghdad,” Mohammed noted.

As Iraq approaches elections, political parties are focusing on easing tensions and strengthening economic stability to face domestic and foreign challenges.

This effort comes amid declining oil revenues and mounting international pressure on Baghdad to implement transparent resource management, while Kurdish leaders intensify calls to end what they describe as a policy of “collective punishment” through salary delays.

Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have been halted since March 25, 2023, following an arbitration ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce, which found Turkey in violation of a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing independent KRG exports.

As a result, Turkey suspended crude oil flows from the Kurdistan Region through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline.

Before the halt, the Kurdistan Region exported around 450,000 barrels of oil per day, generating critical revenue to fund government salaries and public services.

The suspension has resulted in estimated revenue losses of over $25 billion for both the KRG and Iraq’s federal budget.

Despite a temporary agreement reached in April 2023 to resume exports under federal oversight, differences over technical and legal frameworks have delayed implementation.

The shutdown has severely strained the KRG’s finances, forcing it to rely on limited domestic revenues and exacerbating salary delays for public sector employees.

In recent months, Baghdad and Erbil have engaged in negotiations to resolve these disputes, including discussions on sharing oil revenue and defining budget transfers.

The emerging agreement involving SOMO is seen as a crucial step toward restoring financial stability and improving relations between the two governments.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/887679

[Anthea]

Drone attacks target Western
oil companies in Kurdistan

Middle East Eye was among the news organisations granted exclusive access to the facility operated by the US company HKN Energy

The following news report was written by Wladimir
van Wilgenburg and published by Middle East Eye:

An armed drone struck an oil field in the Kurdistan region on Thursday, according to Kurdish forces, the second strike in two days on the Norwegian-run site.

Smoke billowed throughout the morning from the strike on the facility in the Sarsang block, located in the town of Chamanke.

Middle East Eye was among the news organisations granted exclusive access to the facility operated by the US company HKN Energy. Security personnel at the site cautioned reporters to keep their distance due to ongoing gas leaks following the attack.

Guards at Kurdish oil fields in the Kurdistan Region are armed with Kalashnikov rifles and PKM machine guns, locally known as BKC. Empty bullet casings were scattered on the ground, evidence of an earlier attempt to repel the drone attack on the facility.

A video posted Wednesday from the Tawke oil field in Zakho, operated by Norwegian company DNO, shows guards firing machine guns in an attempt to fend off a drone.

However, the press visit to the site was cut short due to a security alert. The Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Service later said that a drone had struck an oil facility operated by DNO in Zakho, one of the locations included in the planned tour.

Separately, another drone crashed in the village of Surezha, near the Erbil Gas Power Station.

Oil fields targeted

Since 14 July, at least six oil fields have been targeted by drone attacks, including sites operated by US companies - HKN and Hunt Oil were each hit twice - and DNO, which was also struck twice.

Drone attacks have also occurred in other areas, both before and after 14 July, particularly near the US consulate in Erbil, the Erbil airport, and the 70s Peshmerga base in Sulaimani.

Drone attacks have increased in the Kurdistan Region since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran ended on 24 June.

“The drone attacks in Kurdish energy sites grew out of a sequence of drone attacks since 19 June on Kurdish security forces, where Iraqi militias were claiming that Kurdistan was supporting Israeli and US strikes on Iran,” Michael Knights, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, told MEE.

Kurdish officials have claimed neutrality in the war. On 13 June, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani condemned Israel’s attack on Iran and spoke with the Iranian foreign minister during the conflict - a stance welcomed by Iranian state media.

“On July 14, this drone and rocket campaign on Kurdistan and Kirkuk transitioned to an attack on Kurdistan's energy. The switch happened because Iran-backed militias in Iraq's government want to push back on the Kurdistan Region, and US pressure from Baghdad about salary payments and energy contracts. This is a counter-pressure campaign by Baghdad militias,” Knights said.

These attacks are not new. According to a Washington Kurdish Institute report, Iran and Iranian-backed armed groups in Iraq launched 32 attacks on the Kurdistan Region between September 2018 and October 2023.

An analyst said the attacks appear aimed at disrupting the Kurdistan Region’s oil infrastructure and delaying a potential energy agreement with Baghdad.

Erbil-Baghdad negotiations

Since last month, there have been several negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad to resume suspended oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.

The exports were suspended after a 2023 ruling by an arbitration court in Paris that found Turkey in violation of an agreement with Iraq by allowing independent Kurdish oil exports.

In May, Iraq’s finance ministry suspended salary payments to Kurdish public employees, accusing Kurdish authorities of exceeding their 12.67 percent share of the federal budget and failing to deliver the agreed volume of oil to the state-owned oil company.

Analysts saw the move as retaliation for two energy deals, worth $110bn, that the Kurdish government signed in Washington with US firms, including HKN, without Baghdad's approval in May.

A Kurdish official, speaking to MEE on condition of anonymity, blamed the Popular Mobilisation Front (PMF) and other militias aligned with the Iraqi government of “targeting Kurdistan’s oil fields and economic infrastructure.”

Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, also blamed “criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll”.

On 15 July, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, ordered an investigation into the drone attacks on oil facilities in the Kurdistan Region and vowed to hold those responsible to account.

However, Kurdish officials have complained that the perpetrators are well-known and that their actions have been limited. “We know exactly who’s behind these attacks and where they’re coming from,” Ahmad said.

Tensions escalated earlier, on 5 July, when Sudani's military spokesperson condemned a statement by the KRG interior ministry accusing PMF groups of involvement in the attacks, calling the allegations against an official security institution “unacceptable”.

'Duty to protect'

Myles B. Caggins III, spokesperson for the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), which represents the majority of international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region, called on Baghdad to stop the drone attacks.

“The government of Iraq must take immediate action to protect the commercial oil production sites in the Kurdistan Region. After three days of attacks on this critical petroleum infrastructure, we are alarmed, and we are taking appropriate precautions to protect our personnel and our facilities,” Caggins told MEE.

“Most APIKUR member companies have temporarily paused their oil production operations, and each day that these operations are paused, there is a great financial loss to the people of Iraq.”

The United States has also strongly condemned drone attacks on its companies.

“The government of Iraq has a duty to protect its territory and all of its citizens,” US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement Wednesday. “These strikes target international companies that are working with Iraq to invest in Iraq’s future.”

Ankara-based analyst Mehmet Alaca told Middle East Eye that Baghdad has long used hard power to undermine Erbil and curb its autonomy.

“The ongoing attacks on oil fields, even as negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad reach their final stages, are a clear indication of this. Over 60 percent of KRG oil production has been halted due to the strikes in the past three days. The attacks appear aimed at forcing Erbil into concessions,” Alaca said.

“Erbil has always been an easy target for Iran. Erbil is chosen for its retaliation against Israel. The current use of similar tactics by militia groups is a tactic learned from their patrons.

“Unable to maintain its internal political integrity and with its economic weakness deepening, the KRG will be even more vulnerable to Baghdad.”

On Thursday, the Iraqi government approved a deal with the KRG to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan region and salary payments for public employees.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani welcomed Baghdad’s decision and called for an end to the attacks on the Kurdistan Region, including its oil infrastructure.

“We hope the federal government will assist in identifying those responsible and in taking the necessary legal measures against them,” Barzani said.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/85 ... tan-region

[Anthea]

The majority of the world's oil is in Kurdistan

But what does the ordinary Kurdish get out of this?

NOTHING

For generations, the Kurds have lived on top of one of the earth's richest natural resources, while other states plunder, sell, and enrich themselves on our land. Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria have divided Kurdistan among themselves - not to love the country, but to exploit it.

They build palaces in Ankara, Tehran and Baghdad. They fund their armies and their dictatorships. They suppress the Kurds, persecute our language, our culture and our freedom - but their regimes live on the oil that lies beneath our villages, our mountains and our soil.

The Kurds, on the other hand, receive poverty, unemployment and oppression.

Where there should be schools, hospitals and welfare, instead there are military bases, prisons and mass graves.

This is not just an injustice.

It's a theft on a gigantic scale.

The eyes of the world see, but the silence is deafening.

The oil of the Kurdistan is the right of the Kurds.

As long as others loot our resources, so too will our fight for freedom and self-determination continue.

[Anthea]

Final Export Deal Talks

A senior delegation from the Kurdistan’s Ministry of Natural Resources and representatives of international oil companies will travel to Baghdad on Sept. 2 for talks with Iraq’s Ministry of Oil and the state oil marketer SOMO to finalize an agreement on restarting oil exports to Turkey’s Ceyhan port, officials said

Sabah Subhi, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee, told Kurdistan 24 that the meeting aims to secure a written deal, as some companies have refused to resume exports without formal guarantees. Subhi said production levels in the Kurdistan Region are now rising and that an Iraqi delegation’s visit to Ceyhan last week completed the necessary technical procedures, paving the way for exports to resume.

The high-stakes meeting follows more than two years of halted exports through the Iraq–Turkey pipeline. Oil flows stopped in March 2023 after the International Chamber of Commerce ruled in favor of Baghdad in an arbitration case against Turkey, affirming the federal government’s sole authority over exports. The ruling forced Ankara to halt Kurdish crude shipments, depriving the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of its main source of revenue and intensifying a financial crisis that has left it struggling to pay public sector salaries.

The dispute traces back to 2013, when the KRG began independently exporting crude through its pipeline to Ceyhan, bypassing Baghdad’s State Oil Marketing Organization. The federal government responded with legal action, arguing Turkey’s role violated the 1973 Iraq–Turkey Pipeline Agreement. The ICC ruling in 2023 strengthened Baghdad’s position, leaving Erbil reliant on federal approval for future sales

Since then, multiple rounds of talks have been held, with the 2023–2025 federal budgets requiring the KRG to deliver oil to SOMO in return for its share of federal funding. Disagreements over implementation have delayed progress, but economic pressures and rising Kurdish production have added urgency.

Iraq’s oil minister recently said exports could restart at an initial rate of 80,000 barrels per day, though international oil companies remain cautious, citing unresolved concerns over payment guarantees and legal frameworks.

With technical groundwork at Ceyhan already completed and both sides under pressure to secure revenues, the Sept. 2 talks in Baghdad are viewed as a critical moment to break the deadlock and revive oil exports that are vital to both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/893189

Kurdistan has got to become Independent and sell Kurdish oil to whomsoever it wants

Bafel Talabani has got to be arrested for crimes against Kurdistan:

Committing TREASON by illegally giving Kurdish land to Iraq

Holding an illegal coup to remove Lahur Talabani from joint chair of PUK

Removing legally elected MPs just because they supporters Lahur Talabani

Bafel Talabani's latest EVIL is his plotting against Lahur Talabani

[Anthea]

SOMO Chief Tells Kurdistan24
Oil Export Deals Sealed

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Director General of Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), Ali Nazar, told Kurdistan24 on Saturday that agreements and contracts concerning the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have been finalized

Nazar emphasized that the Ministry of Natural Resources has made every effort to facilitate the restart of exports soon, adding that SOMO expects shipments to resume shortly.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, speaking during a press conference in Baghdad, also confirmed that talks between Baghdad and Erbil on oil export have made “significant progress.”

He noted that the disagreements were not between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government, but rather involved oil companies seeking guarantees and financial terms for their participation.

According to Kurdistan24 correspondent Shvan Jabari, oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region have presented two major demands: first, that Baghdad provide between $1 to $3 per barrel to cover transport costs for moving oil from Kurdistan’s fields to the Turkish port of Ceyhan; and second, that Baghdad guarantee contractual arrangements before exports resume.

The federal Oil Ministry has insisted that the KRG sign these agreements with the companies before moving forward.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has ordered Iraq’s legal authorities to participate in the ongoing negotiations, with the matter expected to reach the Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday.

If Erbil and Baghdad fail to finalize an agreement, Sudani is prepared to either task the State Council with finding a legal resolution or refer the dispute to the Federal Court.

On the issue of oil revenues, Jabari reported that the KRG is committed under Iraq’s three-year budget law to transfer 50 percent of its non-oil revenues to Baghdad. However, the federal government has recently demanded that all customs and tax revenues from the Kurdistan Region be handed over, in addition to oil revenues, before redistributing 50 percent back to the KRG.

Erbil considers this approach unconstitutional, accusing Baghdad of limiting transfers to salaries only rather than full budget allocations, thereby leaving a portion of Kurdish public employees unpaid.

Negotiations over these issues have continued for weeks. Last week, KRG delegations held multiple meetings in Baghdad with the federal Ministries of Finance and Oil, joined by representatives of producing companies, but no final breakthrough was achieved.

The Council of Ministers is set to deliberate on the matter again on Tuesday, with officials warning that if no resolution is reached, salary payments for July and August in the Kurdistan Region could face further delays.

On Saturday, Col. Myles B. Caggins III, spokesperson for the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), told Kurdistan24 that more than two and a half years have passed since the last oil exports from the Kurdistan Region, and so far, no official agreement has been reached to resume the shipments.

Coggins noted that the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, the federal oil authorities, and oil companies—including APIKUR and SOMO—have continued discussions aimed at reaching a formal written agreement. He emphasized that all companies represented by APIKUR are calling for a signed agreement with Baghdad before resuming any oil exports.

He also revealed that there had been efforts by the U.S. government to encourage Iraq’s Prime Minister to push for a written agreement to restart the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports. Regarding the companies themselves, Coggins stated that each company decides independently when to resume shipments, but APIKUR has consistently emphasized the necessity of a formal agreement.

Coggins further highlighted that the companies seek to ensure that their rights and entitlements are protected and that their financial terms under the agreements are fully respected.

The dispute over oil exports between the KRG and the federal government in Baghdad has persisted for more than a decade, rooted in competing interpretations of Iraq’s constitution and revenue-sharing mechanisms.

Article 112 of the Iraqi Constitution stipulates that oil and gas management should be shared between federal and regional authorities, yet in practice, Baghdad claimed the right to independently market crude oil, depriving the KRG of its right to enjoy an economic independence

A central element of the dispute has been the Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline, which transports oil from northern Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. For years, the KRG exported oil independently through this route, which led to escalating political and legal disputes.

In March 2023, the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce ruled in favor of Baghdad in its arbitration case against Ankara, ordering Turkey to halt oil flows from the KRG without federal approval. Since then, exports through Ceyhan have remained suspended, causing significant revenue losses for both Erbil and Baghdad.

Iraq’s three-year federal budget (2023–2025) sought to regulate the dispute by requiring the KRG to transfer 50 percent of its non-oil revenues to Baghdad and hand over control of oil exports to SOMO. In exchange, Baghdad pledged to cover the salaries of public employees in the Kurdistan Region.

However, disagreements over the scope of revenue transfers and the failure of Baghdad to release funds on time have deepened mistrust. The KRG argues that Baghdad is only sending partial salary payments rather than its fair share of the federal budget, creating recurrent financial shortfalls.

International oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region, such as Genel Energy, DNO, and Gulf Keystone, have been reluctant to resume exports without financial guarantees. They seek compensation for transport costs, as well as binding contractual commitments recognized by the federal Oil Ministry.

Baghdad, for its part, has been cautious about making concessions that could be interpreted as legitimizing past independent sales by the KRG.

For Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, resolving the dispute is crucial to maintaining political stability, as Kurdish parties are an essential part of his governing coalition. For the KRG, resuming oil exports is vital to easing its ongoing fiscal crisis, which has left civil servants unpaid for months.

The broader issue also carries regional implications, as Turkey has signaled its willingness to reopen the pipeline only once Baghdad and Erbil reach a legally binding framework.

With the Council of Ministers set to deliberate on the matter again, the coming days may prove decisive. A breakthrough could pave the way for the resumption of Kurdistan oil exports — estimated at around 450,000 barrels per day before the suspension — while failure risks prolonging the financial squeeze on the Kurdistan Region and fueling further political friction between Erbil and Baghdad.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/86 ... ve-forward

[Anthea]

Iraq Says Oil Export Deal
With Kurdistan Imminent

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil said on Thursday that an agreement with the Kurdistan Government (KRG) and international energy companies to resume oil exports from Kurdistan is expected “in the coming days,” raising hopes of ending a protracted dispute that has blocked crude shipments for nearly 18 months

Basim Khzeir, Undersecretary of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, said in a statement obtained by BasNews that Baghdad was fully prepared to restart exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. “We have taken the necessary facilitative measures to restart Kurdistan oil exports as soon as possible,” he said, adding that talks with the KRG and companies were in their final stages.

Khzeir noted that the contracts governing Kurdish oil production were signed by the KRG with international firms and remain under the authority of the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources. “In the coming days, we will reach an agreement with the oil companies and the Kurdistan Region,” he said, while acknowledging that firms still had “many demands and obligations” to be addressed.

The statement came a day after KRG spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani said the Region had done everything required to clear the way for exports to resume and for Baghdad to send long-delayed salary payments to Kurdish civil servants and pensioners.

“The Kurdistan Region has left nothing for the federal government regarding oil, as with all other issues. There is no longer any excuse for not sending salaries,” Hawramani told BasNews on Wednesday. He said Erbil had formally notified Baghdad of its readiness to hand over oil, producing about 233,000 barrels per day, of which 50,000 barrels are used domestically and the rest available for federal marketing.

According to Hawramani, international companies operating in Kurdistan have softened their stance on one of the main sticking points — whether disputes should be governed under international arbitration or Iraqi law. “Previously, they demanded guarantees outside Iraq, to be treated as a law outside Iraq, but now their opinion has changed; it is normal for them to be treated under Iraqi law,” he said. “This development was a knot that could not be untied between the companies and the federal government, and Iraq has agreed to deal with them according to its laws.”

He added that Erbil is waiting for Baghdad’s reply to its letter and for the transfer of salaries covering July and other outstanding months.

Exports of Kurdish crude — averaging around 450,000 barrels per day before the suspension — were halted in March 2023 after an arbitration ruling in Paris ordered Turkey to stop transporting Kurdish oil without Baghdad’s approval. The standoff has since deprived both the KRG and Iraq of vital revenues, deepened the salary crisis in Kurdistan, and tested relations between Erbil and Baghdad.

The dispute has also strained ties with foreign oil companies, which have slashed output and investment while pressing both governments for guarantees. Resuming flows could help stabilize Iraq’s oil-dependent economy, boost revenues, and ease tensions between the federal and regional authorities ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for November 2025.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/894836

[Anthea]

Oil Firms Sign Deal
Kurdistan Oil Exports

The Kurdistan Government (KRG), Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, and oil-producing companies have signed a trilateral agreement to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan Region, BasNews has learned

The agreement, signed Monday afternoon in Erbil, clears the way for the re-export of Kurdish crude through Turkey’s Ceyhan port after more than two years of suspension. The deal is expected to be formally announced by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani at Tuesday’s Iraqi Council of Ministers meeting, where further details will be released.

Earlier in the day, a technical delegation from Iraq’s state-run North Oil Company visited Erbil to finalize export procedures. The delegation held a four-hour meeting with the KRG’s Ministry of Natural Resources, paving the way for the deal’s conclusion.

Under the agreement, the Kurdistan Region will hand over 230,000 barrels of crude per day to the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), while retaining 50,000 barrels for domestic consumption. Exports will flow to Ceyhan via the North Oil Company.

KRG spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani had told BasNews on Monday that such a deal was imminent, stressing that it would remove obstacles to the transfer of federal salaries to Kurdistan Region employees.

Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through Ceyhan were halted in March 2023 following a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce’s Court of Arbitration in Paris.

The court found that Turkey had violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to independently export crude without Baghdad’s consent between 2014 and 2018, ordering Ankara to pay $1.5 billion in damages to Iraq.

Although Turkey has appealed the ruling, it has signaled readiness to reopen the pipeline once Baghdad and Erbil reach an internal settlement. The suspension has cost the KRG billions of dollars in revenue and deepened its reliance on federal budget transfers to cover public sector salaries.

The resumption of exports is seen as a breakthrough for both Erbil and Baghdad, potentially easing long-standing disputes over oil and revenue sharing while reassuring international oil companies invested in the Kurdistan Region.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/895147

[Anthea]

KRG Confirms Readiness for Kurdistan
Oil Exports Under Federal Agreement

Kurdistan’s Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed that it has fulfilled all obligations required to resume the export of the region’s oil in coordination with Iraq’s Federal Ministry of Oil

The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it has signed agreements with all local and foreign oil companies involved, except for one foreign company that has not yet signed; officials stressed that this does not affect the overall tripartite agreement.

The ministry added that on September 23, official approvals from both the ministry and the oil companies were formally sent to the Federal Ministry of Oil.

Authorities are now awaiting a response to finalize the agreement, allowing the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) to begin exporting Kurdistan’s oil and implement the terms of the accord as soon as possible.

The agreement comes after months of negotiations between the KRG, Baghdad, and international oil companies aimed at resolving long-standing disputes over the export and revenue-sharing of Kurdish oil.

Kurdistan’s oil exports had been largely suspended due to disagreements with the federal government over payments and contract terms.

Once implemented, the tripartite agreement is expected to provide financial stability for the Kurdistan Region, guarantee regular oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, and settle past arrears owed to both local and foreign companies.

Analysts view the deal as a crucial step toward improving relations between Erbil and Baghdad, amid ongoing tensions over federal authority and regional autonomy.

KRG officials have emphasized their commitment to adhering to federal regulations and international standards, signaling a willingness to cooperate with Baghdad and global partners to ensure the timely flow of crude oil to international markets.

https://www.basnews.com/en/babat/895295