Iraq to Announce Resumption of Kurdistan Oil Exports in the Coming Hours, Confirms Oil Minister

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani confirmed that Iraq will officially resume oil exports from the Kurdistan Region via the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) through Turkey's Ceyhan Port in the coming hours.

Abdul Ghani stated, "The export of Kurdistan Region's oil through Ceyhan Port will begin at an initial rate of 185,000 barrels per day, gradually increasing to match the capacity set in the federal budget."

The federal Oil Minister announced on Wednesday that an agreement had been reached with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to restart the Ceyhan pipeline, ensuring joint operations for crude exports.

In an interview with Iraq’s Al-Ikhbariya channel, Abdul Ghani said, "We have held a series of meetings with the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, resulting in important agreements."

He emphasized, "We have reached a joint working agreement to operate the Ceyhan pipeline."

According to Basim Mohammed Khudair, the Deputy Minister for Extraction Affairs at Iraq’s Oil Ministry, the ministry will initially receive 185,000 barrels per day from the Kurdistan Region, with the target of reaching 400,000 barrels per day in subsequent phases.

Khudair told Iraq's official news agency that the halt in exports over the past year had caused technical issues for Kurdistan’s oil fields, requiring a rehabilitation period to restore full production capacity.

"The current available export volume is 300,000 barrels per day, of which 185,000 barrels will be designated for export, while the rest is allocated for domestic use," he explained.

A delegation from Iraq’s Oil Ministry recently visited the Kurdistan Region, and both sides agreed to form joint technical committees to oversee the export resumption process.

Read More: Iraq and Kurdistan Region Finalize Mechanism to Resume Oil Exports

"The North Oil Company teams and KRG representatives are working together to inspect and assess the pipeline’s condition to ensure its readiness for operations," Khudair added.

He further noted that Iraq has contacted Turkey to confirm the Ceyhan pipeline's operational status, stating, "We are awaiting Turkey's response within the next 24 hours."

Khudair stressed that Iraq is committed to sustained oil exports through Ceyhan, viewing it as a key element in strategic relations between Iraq and Turkey.

He affirmed that continuous coordination with the Kurdistan Region and Turkey is being maintained to ensure stable exports.

The KRG Ministry of Natural Resources released a statement on Sunday confirming an agreement with Iraq’s Oil Ministry to resume oil exports in accordance with federal budget regulations.

Read More: Erbil, Baghdad Reach Agreement to Resume Kurdistan’s Oil Exports

The statement emphasized that a joint technical team had been formed to inspect the pipeline infrastructure and ensure its operational readiness.

"We reaffirm our commitment to implementing the provisions of the federal budget law," the statement read.

The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR) also announced on February 23, 2025, that it is fully prepared to restart oil exports via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, marking the end of a nearly two-year suspension.

Read More: APIKUR Signals Readiness to Restart Oil Exports via Iraq-Turkey Pipeline