“During the meeting, Turkey's relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region were discussed, particularly their joint cooperation in the energy and water management sectors,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency. The two top officials further “exchanged views on efforts and steps to resume the export of Kurdistan Region's oil.”
The Kurdistan Region's oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline were suspended in March 2023 following a ruling by a Paris-based arbitration court, which sided with Baghdad, stating that Ankara violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by permitting Erbil to export oil independently starting in 2014.
Prior to the suspension, Erbil was exporting approximately 400,000 barrels of oil per day via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, in addition to around 75,000 barrels of oil from Kirkuk.
In early February, the Iraqi legislature passed an amendment to the federal budget law, increasing compensation to international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the Kurdistan Region. The amendment is seen as crucial for the resumption of Kurdish oil exports.
The Kurdistan Region’s acting minister of natural resources, Kamal Mohammed, confirmed on Monday that oil exports from the Kurdistan Region will resume next month. However, he emphasized that Turkey’s consent is required for the oil to be transferred through its territory.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency’s statement on Tuesday quoted the Turkish diplomat as “welcoming the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad regarding the process of resuming the Kurdistan Region's oil exports,” and “reaffirming Turkey's full support for the process.”
Of note, Ekinci’s delegation to the Kurdistan Region consisted of the Turkish Ambassador and several energy sector officials. Her visit to Erbil comes two days after she visited Baghdad to discuss improving cooperation on Iraq’s water infrastructure.
The suspension of Kurdish oil exports has caused significant economic challenges for the Kurdistan Region, including delays in paying civil servant salaries. The unpaid salaries crisis has triggered ongoing protests from public employees. Kurds are hopeful that the resumption of oil exports will help alleviate the Region’s economic difficulties.
