KRG Says Khor Mor Gas Supply to Baghdad Began Without Its Approval, Warns of Legal Action
In a statement, the KRG said it was informed by the joint operators on Tuesday that gas deliveries to Iraq's Ministry of Electricity for power generation had commenced, adding that it received the notification at the same time the companies publicly announced the initiative.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said on Thursday that Crescent Petroleum and Dana Gas began supplying natural gas from the Khor Mor field to Iraq's Ministry of Electricity without the regional government's approval, calling the move a breach of contractual obligations and warning it is considering legal and contractual measures.
In a statement, the KRG said it was informed by the joint operators on Tuesday that gas deliveries to Iraq's Ministry of Electricity for power generation had commenced, adding that it received the notification at the same time the companies publicly announced the initiative.
The KRG stressed that it has consistently supported efforts to strengthen energy security for both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq and has never opposed supplying gas or electricity to other parts of the country, provided such arrangements comply with contractual agreements and receive the KRG's approval as the contracting authority.
According to the statement, the operators' decision to begin gas supplies without prior authorization violated the contractual framework governing the Khor Mor project and amounted to an unwarranted interference in the institutional arrangements between the KRG and the federal government.
The KRG noted that its cooperation with Baghdad on energy issues had made significant progress in recent months, making the companies' unilateral action particularly disappointing.
The regional government also said it had repeatedly requested additional gas supplies for facilities where it had invested substantial public resources to expand electricity generation for both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. Instead, it said, the operators proceeded without coordination.
The KRG further rejected the operators' public statement thanking the regional government for supporting the gas deliveries, describing the claim as "inaccurate and misleading." It emphasized that it neither approved nor authorized the initiative.
The statement said the KRG is reviewing the legal, contractual, and operational consequences of the operators' actions and will take all appropriate measures to protect its contractual rights, preserve the integrity of the Khor Mor project agreements, and safeguard the energy interests of the people of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Despite the dispute, the KRG reaffirmed its commitment to working constructively with the Iraqi federal government to increase gas production and electricity generation through mutually agreed and contractually compliant arrangements.
The Khor Mor gas field, located in the Kurdistan Region's Chamchamal district, is operated jointly by Crescent Petroleum and Dana Gas and is the region's largest natural gas field. It supplies fuel for power stations that generate much of the Kurdistan Region's electricity and has long been viewed as a key component of broader plans to enhance Iraq's energy security through increased domestic gas production.