Iraqi Oil Minister signals progress in resuming oil exports from Kurdistan Region

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani on Tuesday told Kurdistan24 that they continue to negotiate with the Kurdistan Region and hope to resume oil exports shortly.

Abdul Ghani highlighted the importance of the existing agreement between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) regarding oil exports through the Turkish Ceyhan Port. This agreement serves as the foundation for ongoing discussions aimed at resuming vital oil flows.

In addition to addressing oil exports, the Minister acknowledged Iraq's current reliance on gas imports from neighboring Iran. "Although Iraq buys gas from neighboring Iran, it needs more gas to generate electricity, so they will sign more contracts in the future," he said, indicating plans to secure additional energy resources.

While no specific date has been set for the resumption of oil exports, Abdul Ghani emphasized the continuous and collaborative communication between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. He noted that there is ongoing dialogue with Kamal Mohammad, the acting Minister of Natural Resources for the KRG, underscoring the commitment to cooperation and information exchange.

This development marks a positive step towards enhancing Iraq's energy sector and strengthening the relationship between the Iraqi government and the KRG.