Kormore Gas Field Under Attack Again: Iraq’s Controversy Deepens Amid Militia Blame

The ongoing controversy surrounding the Kormore Gas field in the Jammal district of the Sulaymaniyah Governorate has intensified, marking the ninth incident of its kind in two years. Experts and social media activists have attributed responsibility for these attacks to government factions and militias.

The Kormore field ranks among the largest gas reserves in Iraq and the Kurdistan region, producing 15,000 barrels of condensate and over 1,000 metric tons of liquefied oil daily. This significant output is crucial for generating 4,200 megawatts of electricity each day, with 2,800 megawatts allocated for the Kurdistan region and the remainder directed to Kirkuk and Nineveh provinces.

Economist Mustafa Salem highlighted in a recent social media post that the militia operating under Khamenei’s influence has repeatedly targeted Iraqi economic sites with drones and missiles, including the Kormore Gas field. He underscored concerns about the complicity of government forces that seem to provide cover for these armed factions.

Details regarding the recent drone attack on the gas field have emerged, corroborated by multiple sources indicating that the attack involved several unmanned aerial vehicles. Reports indicate that the assault targeted the headquarters of the UAE gas company responsible for the field’s operations, resulting in damage to company facilities.

Current security assessments indicate that the drone origins remain unverified, and no entities have claimed responsibility for the incident at this time.

In a statement, the Ministry of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Regional Government confirmed that a drone attack occurred on the Kormore Gas field, assuring that no damage was inflicted on the field or the operating Emirati company, Dana Gas. The ministry emphasized that gas production continues without disruption, with normal pressure levels maintained at the stations.

The region’s anti-terrorism agency reported that the drone attack originated from the Bashir village south of Kirkuk, affirming that outlawed militias were responsible for the assault.

Local Kurdish politicians have condemned these repeated attacks, collectively holding Iranian-affiliated armed groups accountable for the aggression.

Furthermore, the Security Media Cell articulated that the bombing of the Kormore field represents an attack against all Iraqis. In response, the Commander in Chief has mandated the formation of a technical security committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding these attacks.

This is not the first incident involving the Kormore field; a previous attack in April 2024 resulted in the deaths of three workers, injuring three others and leading to a loss of 2,500 megawatts from the region’s electrical grid.

The Kormore Gas field, situated in the Qadir Karam district of Sulaymaniyah, is managed by the Kurdistan Regional Government and operated by Dana Gas and the UAE Crescent. Approximately 60 percent of the gas necessary for the Kurdistan region’s power generation comes from this field, which also meets local cooking gas demands.

In January 2021, the Kurdistan Ministry of Natural Resources signed an agreement with Car Group to enhance the gas transport infrastructure, extending a 36-year pipeline from the Kormore Ghazi field to Erbil and connecting a subsequent 52-year pipeline from Erbil to Dohuk, notably placing this pipeline strategically 35 kilometers from the Turkish border.

This project was heralded as foundational for the Kurdistan region’s gas industry and future gas exports. However, achieving this vision necessitates political and economic stability alongside billions of dollars in investment, particularly since many of the region’s gas fields remain undeveloped. This reality may clarify the rapid diplomatic engagement with leaders from both Qatar and the UAE by regional officials.

Dana Gas aims to increase natural gas production in the Kurdistan region through two strategic phases, targeting an eventual production capacity of approximately one billion cubic feet. The initial phase seeks to enhance production by 250 million cubic feet, sufficient to satisfy regional demands, while the subsequent phase anticipates additional production increases with potential for export.

Energy analysts have linked the frequent attacks on the Emirati-operated fields to external agendas aimed at thwarting Iraq’s path to energy self-sufficiency, raising concerns over the implications for foreign investment in the region.

Political analyst Kovand Sherwani noted in prior discourse that repeated assaults on Dana Gas represent a dual threat: they not only target Gulf investments across the Kurdistan region but also impede the development of local gas industries. A significant attainment of self-reliance in energy could potentially save Iraq’s budget over $3 billion annually by lessening dependency on imports from neighboring countries.

The Kurdistan Gas Project was initiated in 2007 through an agreement between Dana Gas and Crescent Oil, granting them exclusive rights for the evaluation, development, production, marketing, and sale of oil and natural gas from the Kormore and Jamal fields. Production commenced in October 2008 with the successful establishment of operational facilities within an unprecedented 15-month timeframe. In 2009, the Pearl Petroleum consortium, involving Dana Gas, Al Hilal Oil, and later joined by OMV, MOL, and RWE, was formed to drive development efforts.