Kurdistan Oil Industry Association (APKOR) Seeks Agreement to Resume Oil Exports
The Kurdistan Oil Industry Association (APKOR) has expressed readiness to recommence oil exports to Turkey, contingent upon the establishment of an agreement that respects the operational contracts of its member companies.
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, APKOR communicated via social media regarding ongoing discussions between the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi federal government. The association’s members indicated their willingness to restart oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, provided that the terms of economic and commercial contracts pertinent to the association are acknowledged.
In this message, APKOR emphasized the necessity of a written agreement addressing sales with both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. This agreement must ensure transparency in transactions and guarantee timely payments, while safeguarding against political interference.
APKOR members remain committed to collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to devise a solution that meets the needs of the local populace.
Since March 2023, the exportation of 400,000 barrels of oil per day from the Kurdistan Region, along with 75,000 barrels from Kirkuk, has been halted due to a ruling from an international mediation court in Paris favoring the Iraqi federal government. This ruling concluded that the Kurdistan Regional Government was exporting oil independently, without the consent of Baghdad.
Earlier this year, Miles Cagins, spokesman for APKOR, indicated that the cessation of oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline has resulted in estimated losses ranging from $23 billion to $24 billion for the Kurdistan Region.
