ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) natural resources ministry stated on Wednesday that gas produced in the Khor Mor field cannot be sold to any party without Erbil's approval, a day after the Iraqi government approved plans to supply gas from the field to a Kirkuk power plant.
Following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the Iraqi government approved a recommendation from the electricity ministry to supply gas from the Khor Mor field through Crescent Petroleum to the Kirkuk gas power plant.
The Natural Resources Ministry stated that according to a contract with Pearl Petroleum, a 5-company consortium consisting of Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum in the Middle East and three European energy firms, the gas in the field is allocated for the Kurdistan Region's electricity sector.
“Any amount of gas produced must not be sold to any party without the consent of the Kurdistan Regional Government,” read the statement.
Ahmed al-Abadi, the spokesperson for the Iraqi Electricity Ministry, told Rudaw on Wednesday that discussions were held with the Crescent Petroleum to supply some 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the Kirkuk gas power plant.
Abadi noted that they will seek approval from the KRG for the deal to go through.
“In the initial stage, about 100 million standard cubic feet will be supplied for the Kirkuk gas station, and this agreement should be approved by the Kurdistan Regional Government," he said.
The Khor Mor gas field produces over 500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, according to Dana Gas. The field serves as the primary gas supplier for the Kurdistan Region's power plants.
The field is occasionally attacked by pro-Iran militia groups, damaging electricity production in the Kurdistan Region. A drone strike on the field in late April shut down some two-thirds of the Region's electricity generation. A drone attack in January similarly brought work at the field to a halt.
Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report
