Iran casts shadow over Kurdish gas aspirations
The Kurdistan region is facing political and military challenges as efforts to appoint a government in Baghdad descend further into chaos
Years of wrangling over the status of Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil and gas sector are coming to a head. And as Baghdad descends into further political upheaval, Tehran appears likely to be the key beneficiary. Independent Kurdish oil exports have been a prominent issue since they began in 2007. But the declaration in February by Iraq’s federal court that these exports are unconstitutional has added a high-profile legal edge to proceedings—with Kurdish expansionism up against vested interests in maintaining the status quo. With production of c.450,000bl/d and exports of c.350,000bl/d, the Kurdistan region accounts for a little over 10pc of Iraq’s oil flows. The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG’s
Also in this section
4 December 2024
Associated gas from legacy oil basins could offer a new lease of life to wobbling shale gas production and cement US powerhouse status
3 December 2024
Papua New Guinea’s LNG sector appears to be back on track, with other projects in the pipeline
2 December 2024
Crucial role of gas means country is laying the foundations to control physical and trading supply chains
30 November 2024
Decades of turmoil have left Iraq’s vast energy potential underutilised, but renewed investment and strategic reforms are transforming it into a key player in the region