SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has called for an urgent meeting with relevant parties to resume negotiations on the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports, rejecting the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan’s (APIKUR) recent statement accusing the ministry of unwillingness to negotiate, labeling it as “misleading and inaccurate.”
“The Ministry of Oil is working to ensure the proper implementation of the budget law amendment adopted on February 2, 2025, so that exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline can begin as soon as possible. “read a statement from the Iraqi Ministry of Oil.
The federal budget law amendment mandates the coverage of the Kurdistan Region’s oil production and transportation costs at $16, requires all oil production in the region to be delivered to SOMO or the Ministry of Oil, and mandates an international consultant company to calculate fair production and transportation costs for each field.
The Ministry’s statement highlighted that the Iraqi government has taken significant and tangible steps to demonstrate its goodwill and facilitate the resumption of oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP), stating, “The government has consistently worked to safeguard the national interest and made substantial efforts to protect Iraq’s resources while implementing legal and sustainable solutions.”
The Ministry cleared itself from the stalemate in negotiations, stating that progress has been hindered by unrealistic demands and actions outside legal frameworks, which have obstructed a final settlement. It emphasized that such demands undermine constructive negotiations, stressing the need for a legal and effective solution.
Referring to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s stance on the issue, the Ministry pointed out that the PM emphasized selling oil outside SOMO’s responsibility and mechanisms violates the rights of the Iraqi people. He stressed the urgent need for an agreed-upon solution to halt unauthorized sales and protect Iraq’s wealth.
Committed to protecting the interests of all parties, including international oil companies, the Ministry reiterated the Iraqi government’s emphasis on the urgent need for an agreed-upon solution to swiftly halt unauthorized oil sales and safeguard the nation’s wealth.
In a separate statement late Thursday, APIKUR stressed that its member companies are in a “hurry” to resume oil exports, underscoring their leading role in negotiations with Baghdad. The organization emphasized the importance of protecting the rights and investments of its members, while adding that these concerns have been conveyed to all stakeholders.