SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — Tanjaro, an area in southeastern Sulaimani, is choked with smoke and waste from illegal refineries, creating a dire situation for its residents. Daily scenes of pollution have led to significant health issues among the local population.
Muhammed Karim, a Tanjaro resident of over 20 years, describes the severe impact on his community. “Our lives, gardens, animals, and poultry have all suffered due to Tanjaro’s polluted environment,” Karim says. He notes that unpleasant odors spread throughout the neighborhood, causing widespread illness.
The skies of Tanjaro are often filled with smoke of varying colors, and the persistent smell of oil and polluted air is a constant nuisance. The Kurdistan Green Party has long called for the closure of these refineries, but their pleas have largely gone unheard.
Mlko Bazyani, head of the Kurdistan Green Party, emphasizes that these refineries, often controlled by high-level officials, should benefit the public rather than harm them. “Oil is a public resource and should serve the people of Kurdistan, not endanger their health and environment,” Bazyani asserts.
On August 5, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) acted to address the issue by closing several illegal refineries in Erbil. Erbil’s governor Omed Khoshnaw reported that the city has 138 illegal and unlicensed refineries. The authorities began their closure one day after Khoshnaw’s remarks.
Karim Ali, a member of the Sulaimani Provincial Council’s Natural Resources Committee, expressed skepticism about the timing and motives behind the KRG’s decision. “These refineries may have negatively impacted the business of larger refineries, prompting them to initiate this campaign. Additionally, part of this decision seems to be driven by the election campaign,” Ali claims.
He also suggests that “the directive to close these refineries has existed for years, so why has it not been implemented until now?”
Reporting by Hardi Osman
KRG shuts down 138 illegal oil refineries in Erbil to combat pollution
