Kurdistan Oil Exports Resume After More Than Two Years of Suspension

Erbil – The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, announced the resumption of the region’s oil exports to global markets via the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline, after a suspension lasting more than two years due to political and legal disputes with Baghdad.

During a conference in Erbil, Barzani described the agreement with the federal government as a “major achievement serving all Iraqis,” and expressed his gratitude to the United States for its support.

Meanwhile, the federal Ministry of Oil confirmed that exports resumed smoothly early Saturday morning, while the director of the “SOMO” company stated that daily exports will reach approximately 190,000 barrels, with 50,000 barrels allocated for local consumption.

Exports from the region had stopped in March 2023 following a ruling by the International Arbitration Court in Paris, which required Turkey to halt imports without Baghdad’s approval, exacerbating tensions between Erbil and the federal government.