Kurdistan PM discusses further investment with Gazprom Neft, Russian Energy Minister

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – On Thursday during St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani met with Gazprom Neft CEO Alexander Dyukov and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak to discuss further investment in energy sector in Kurdistan Region.

In the meeting with Barzani, Dyukov highlighted Gazprom Neft’s investment in the Kurdistan Region and expressed readiness to widen the level of investment in the future, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) media office.

Barzani praised the company’s ongoing investment in the region, even in the past few years when the Kurdistan Region was under continued threat of attacks by the Islamic State (IS).

In a separate meeting with Barzani, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak mentioned that the Ministry would encourage other oil companies in the country to invest in the Kurdistan Region's energy sector, the KRG media office stated.

The Kurdish Premier talked about the challenging situation in the Kurdistan Region over the past few years following the emergence of IS in northern Iraq, an immense number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kurdistan, the drop in oil prices internationally, and cuts in the federal budget share by Baghdad. He mentioned that now, the situation is stabilizing.

Barzani hoped that fostering bilateral ties would not only focus on the energy sector but also include agriculture, industry and other fields.

Barzani is also expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

Editing by G.H. Renaud