The Ministry of Oil discloses the quantities received from the Kurdistan Region as a first stage
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for Extraction Affairs, Bassem Muhammad Khudair, confirmed on Sunday that the ministry will receive about 185,000 barrels per day from the Kurdistan Region as a first stage after the resumption of oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, while noting that the quantity is gradually escalating to 400,000 barrels per day.
Khudair said in a press statement: “The suspension of exports from the Kurdistan region during the past period caused a problem for the oil fields in the region, and it takes a period of rehabilitation to restore its production capacity, in order to reach the export of 400,000 barrels per day, which is the minimum quantities prescribed in the budget.”
He added that “the amount currently available for export in the region is 300,000 barrels per day, part of which is intended for internal use, while the remaining 185,000 barrels will be allocated for export.”
He pointed out that “the past period witnessed the visit of a delegation from the Ministry of Oil to the region, and it was agreed to form joint committees to follow up the mechanisms for the resumption of oil export,” explaining that “we were informed by the region of its readiness to start the export process.”
He continued: “The technical teams of the North Oil Company and representatives of the Kurdistan Region are working to inspect the oil export pipelines and ensure their validity and readiness to resume oil pumping through them.”
Khudair stressed that “the Ministry of Oil has addressed the Turkish side to inquire about the readiness of the pipe intended for export through the port of Cihan, and we are waiting for the answer within the next 24 hours.”
He also stated that “the ministry is keen to maintain export operations through the port of Ceyhan as part of a strategic vision for the relationship between Iraq and Turkey, and there is continuous communication with the region and the Turkish side to ensure continued cooperation and export.”
The negotiation delegation of the Kurdistan Regional Government announced earlier on Sunday that it “the promise of communication and coordination between the Federal Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Region, it was agreed and confirmed to resume the export of the region’s oil according to the available quantities.”
The statement added, “A joint technical team was formed today to inspect the export pipe and indicate its readiness. In this regard, we emphasize our commitment to implement the provisions of the Federal Budget Law.”