Iraqi PM, Turkish Minister Discuss Kurdistan Oil Exports, Strategic Ties
Iraq’s Prime Minister al-Sudani reaffirmed his commitment to fast-tracking Kurdistan’s oil exports, noting ongoing talks with international firms to resolve technical and contractual issues.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraq and Türkiye have intensified discussions on reviving the long-stalled oil exports from the Kurdistan Region, as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani met with Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar to address energy cooperation, strategic infrastructure development, and water resource management.
The meeting, which took place amid growing economic interdependence between Baghdad and Ankara, underscored Iraq’s commitment to expanding collaboration with Turkish companies, particularly in the fields of energy diversification and electricity interconnection projects.
Iraq’s Prime Minister al-Sudani reiterated his government’s determination to accelerate the resumption of Kurdistan’s oil exports, confirming that negotiations with international oil companies operating in the region are ongoing to resolve outstanding technical and contractual issues.
The halt in Kurdistan Region oil exports through Türkiye’s Ceyhan Port, which has persisted for nearly a year, has severely impacted the region’s economy, disrupting revenue streams and straining relations between Erbil, Baghdad, and Ankara.
The latest talks signal a renewed push to overcome the bureaucratic and logistical obstacles that have hindered the flow of Kurdish crude to international markets.
During the discussions, Minister Bayraktar conveyed Türkiye’s strategic interest in deepening energy cooperation with Iraq, emphasizing that the resumption of oil exports from Basra and the Kurdistan Region via the Ceyhan Port remains a priority for Ankara.
He stressed that Türkiye sees Iraq as a key energy partner, not only in crude oil exports but also in refining, petrochemical development, and broader energy infrastructure investments.
Bayraktar also highlighted the Strategic Development Road Project, an ambitious infrastructure initiative aimed at bolstering trade routes between Iraq and Türkiye, as a significant opportunity for major investment partnerships. The project is expected to enhance connectivity, strengthen supply chains, and create economic opportunities for both nations, further integrating Iraq’s energy sector into the regional market.
Beyond energy, al-Sudani and Bayraktar discussed the critical issue of water cooperation, with Iraq seeking assurances for stable water inflows from upstream Turkish sources. Iraq has faced severe drought conditions and water shortages due to reduced inflows from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and negotiations with Türkiye are crucial to ensuring sustainable water resource management.
The talks also encompassed strategic infrastructure projects that could enhance Iraq’s economic stability and long-term development. Both parties acknowledged that strengthening energy and water cooperation would serve as a foundation for broader regional stability and prosperity.
As discussions progress, the coming weeks will determine whether Iraq and Türkiye can translate diplomatic commitments into concrete actions that will allow Kurdistan’s oil to once again reach global markets.
The stakes remain high, and a resolution to the export impasse would not only stabilize Iraq’s energy sector but also strengthen regional economic ties in an increasingly interconnected landscape.