Iraqi Oil Ministry Urges KRG to Resume Oil Exports
The Iraqi Oil Ministry has formally requested that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) forward the necessary operational data to the oil marketing company in order to restart oil exports, as reported by ministry officials.
According to a statement issued on February 22, 2025, the KRG’s oil exports have been processed through the port of Ceyhan, Turkey. The Ministry emphasized the need for the KRG to supply the operational farms to facilitate the resumption of exports via the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline and the port of Ceyhan, in alignment with existing contracts with refining companies.
Since March 2023, the export of 400,000 barrels of oil per day from the Kurdistan Region, alongside 75,000 barrels from Kirkuk, has been halted due to an international mediation court ruling in Paris that favored the Iraqi federal government. This ruling determined that the KRG must cease independent oil transactions without Baghdad’s consent.
On February 2, 2025, the Iraqi parliament ratified the first amendment to the three-year budget law, which abolished specific provisions and established a revised framework for oil regulation. Following this, the amendment to the Iraqi budget law was officially published on February 18, 2025.
The modification includes provisions affecting the KRG’s oil production, transportation, and delivery framework, which stipulates a fixed cost of $16 for oil production and transportation. This will remain in effect until an international consulting entity can assess and establish a price within a 60-day period.
Summary of Key Developments:
| Date | Event Description |
|---|---|
| March 2023 | Suspension of oil exports from KRG and Kirkuk due to court ruling. |
| February 2, 2025 | Iraqi parliament approves amendment to three-year budget law. |
| February 18, 2025 | Amendment to budget law is published and takes effect. |
| Ongoing | KRG tasked with resuming oil exports through compliant frameworks. |
The resolution of these developments will be critical for both the Iraqi federal government and the KRG as they seek to stabilize and optimize their oil export capabilities in an increasingly complex global market.
