KRG, Iraq Oil Ministry, and APIKUR Set to Resume Talks on Kurdistan Oil Exports
“Iraq is not genuinely committed to resuming the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports. The negotiators sent by Baghdad often lack decision-making authority,” Iraqi MP.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iraq’s Ministry of Oil is preparing to hold a new round of discussions this week with the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources and representatives of the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR) regarding the long-stalled export of Kurdish oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.
Sabah Sobhi, a member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee, told Kurdistan24 on Sunday that the trilateral meeting will aim to discuss the technical and legal steps necessary to restart exports. “This week, the Iraqi Oil Ministry will meet with the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources and APIKUR to discuss resuming oil exports,” Sobhi said.
He added that APIKUR's participation is essential, as the organization has previously voiced dissatisfaction with the current export mechanisms and revenue-sharing arrangements. The meeting is expected to include Iraq’s Federal Oil Minister Hayan Abdulghani.
Sobhi expressed doubts about the seriousness of Baghdad’s intentions: “Iraq is not genuinely committed to resuming the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports. The negotiators sent by Baghdad often lack decision-making authority.”
This latest development comes on the heels of APIKUR's firm denial of a report published by the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, which alleged that APIKUR blamed Erbil for delaying the restart of exports. In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, APIKUR rejected the claim and reaffirmed its support for the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) efforts to reactivate exports via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.
The association praised the efforts of KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and other regional officials, emphasizing that restarting oil exports would benefit all Iraqi citizens by generating much-needed revenue.
This commentary and tweet from @aawsat_eng wrongly states that APIKUR accuses Erbil for the ongoing delays in resuming oil exports.
— APIKUR (@apikur_oil) March 30, 2025
APIKUR member companies appreciate Prime Minister Barzani and other KRG leaders vigorous public and private efforts to restore oil exports… https://t.co/GLaUFuqD8e
A Prolonged Oil Dispute
The resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region remains a key issue in Baghdad-Erbil relations. In March 2023, crude oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline were halted following an international arbitration ruling favoring Baghdad, which challenged the legality of KRG's independent oil sales. Since then, both sides have been engaged in intermittent talks without reaching a permanent solution.
In March 2025, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region signed a renewed agreement to explore the resumption of oil exports, but frustrations have mounted over delays, payment disputes, and a lack of concrete progress. The Kurdistan Region, which relies heavily on oil revenue to fund its public sector and services, continues to advocate for a fair and reliable export mechanism within Iraq’s federal framework.
As pressure mounts both internally and externally, the outcome of this week’s meeting could prove pivotal in determining whether Kurdish oil will once again flow through international markets via the Iraq-Turkey corridor.
