HKN Executive: Iraq Risks Summer Electricity Crisis Without Kurdish Gas
At the Washington Energy Conference, Dr. Zais stated that the KRG's agreements with HKN Energy and Western Zagros comply with Iraq's Constitution and benefit both Kurdistan and Iraq.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Matthew Zais, Vice President for Government Affairs at HKN Energy, warned on Thursday that Iraq could face a severe power crisis this summer due to ongoing gas shortages, urging Baghdad to honor the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional right to develop and export its natural resources.
Speaking during a panel at the Washington Energy Conference, Dr. Zais emphasized that the recently signed agreements between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and U.S. energy firms HKN Energy and Western Zagros are fully in line with the Iraqi Constitution and will serve the interests of both Kurdistan and Iraq at large.
“These agreements bring enormous benefits to both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” Zais said. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Barzani, the KRG has acted in accordance with its constitutional rights. These contracts are not only legal, but they are vital for the future energy security of Iraq.”
Iraq’s Power Crisis Looms
Zais underscored that Iraq currently suffers from a serious shortage of gas for electricity generation, warning: “This summer, Iraq will face an electricity crisis due to insufficient gas supplies and its overdependence on Iranian gas.”
He urged Baghdad to respect the agreements signed by the KRG and reiterated that the barriers to implementation are political, not technical. “The gas from Kurdistan is a critical source for Iraq. Blocking its flow for political reasons only hurts the country,” he said.
Strategic Impact of the Agreements
On May 19, as part of an official visit to the United States, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani oversaw the signing of two major energy agreements between the KRG and leading U.S. oil companies HKN Energy and WesternZagros. The agreements, worth billions of dollars, aim to significantly expand gas and oil production capacity in the Kurdistan Region and support its economic infrastructure.
“These deals are a strategic achievement,” Zais noted, “and they reflect a successful energy policy by the Kurdistan Regional Government.”
A Constitutional Right and Economic Lifeline
Despite strong opposition from the Iraqi federal government, Kurdish officials maintain that the energy contracts are protected under Article 112 and Article 115 of the Iraqi Constitution, which grant the Kurdistan Region authority over natural resource management.
Zais echoed this view, stating, “The KRG has both the constitutional mandate and the technical ability to implement these deals. Iraq would do well to support them rather than obstruct them.”
With Baghdad’s energy grid strained and peak summer demand approaching, observers say Kurdish gas could help stabilize the system—if political hurdles are overcome. As Dr. Zais put it, “Kurdistan’s energy is not the problem—it’s the solution.”
