Iraqi Kurdistan begins its recovery after a difficult year
A resurgent energy sector and likely better relations with Baghdad make for a brighter KRI future
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) started 2018 in an awful mess. After a misjudged independence referendum in October 2017, the region lost almost half its land—and oil export capacity—as federal forces retook a swath of contested territory, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) faced insolvency, and its leadership felt betrayed and isolated. However, the KRG's pipeline exports, which collapsed from around 580,000 bl/d to a post-Kirkuk level of 230,000 bl/d, have since recovered to around 400,000 bl/d. There is even better news ahead: planned upgrades and drilling programmes could add around 100,000 bl/d of new production capacity by the end of 2019.
Also in this section
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic
