Kurdistan Oil Delegation in Baghdad for Key Talks on Resuming Oil Exports

A senior-level delegation from the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Natural Resources visited Baghdad on Tuesday to engage in crucial negotiations aimed at restarting the halted oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.

Sabah Sobhi, a member of Iraq's Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee, told Kurdistan24 that the delegation held a trilateral meeting with officials from Iraq's Ministry of Oil and representatives from the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR).

Dr. Sobhi stated that the main objective of the visit was to address the outstanding issues hindering the resumption of Kurdish oil exports, which have been suspended since March 2023 following a ruling by the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce. The decision forced Turkey to cease pipeline exports from the Kurdistan Region, citing Baghdad’s exclusive authority over oil exports.

“The delegation aims to negotiate a framework to resolve the technical and administrative problems that prevent Kurdish oil from being exported through the federally managed system,” Sobhi said.

He also emphasized that, so far, oil-producing companies operating in the Kurdistan Region have rejected the terms set by Iraq’s Ministry of Oil and are unwilling to resume exports under the current framework proposed by Baghdad. These companies argue that the financial terms and contract models being offered do not ensure profitability or operational clarity.

Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region have long been a point of contention between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad. Following the 2023 arbitration ruling, around 450,000 barrels per day of Kurdish crude exports were halted, significantly impacting the Region's economy and budget. Subsequent negotiations have repeatedly stalled over revenue-sharing mechanisms and contract terms.

(Source:Kurdistan24)