After Baghdad’s rejection, the Kurdistan Regional Government clarifies the circumstances surrounding its oil contracts with the United States.
After Baghdad’s rejection, the Kurdistan Regional Government clarifies the circumstances surrounding its oil contracts with the United States.
2025/05/20
The Ministry of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Regional Government issued an official clarification on Tuesday regarding contracts signed with American companies to develop two oil fields in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. This came after the federal government in Baghdad announced its rejection of these contracts.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Natural Resources, a copy of which was received by {Euphrates News}, the regional government stressed: “its full constitutional rights and powers as a federal entity within the framework of the permanent Iraqi constitution, which clearly stipulates the rights and powers of the region.”
She stressed that “the two agreements concluded by our ministry with HKN and Western Zagros are not new, but have been in effect for many years. Iraqi courts have previously recognized their legitimacy and legality, and they are free from any legal flaw. The change that occurred was limited only to the company operating these contracts, which were contracted with in accordance with the legal and contractual procedures stipulated in the previously signed agreements.”
She explained, “The two American companies have been developing investments in the oil and gas sector for several years. They are among the main oil producers in the Kurdistan Region, and are not new investors.” She explained, “The goal of these agreements and contracts is to meet local needs by increasing natural gas production to fuel power plants, with the aim of ensuring the continuity of electricity supply throughout Iraq.”
Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani sponsored the signing ceremony of two important energy sector agreements on Tuesday at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.
The two agreements, estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars, aim to develop the Kurdistan Region’s oil and energy sector and strengthen its economic infrastructure, according to the statement.
For its part, the Federal Ministry of Oil announced its complete rejection of the measures taken by the Ministry of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding its contract to invest in the Miran and Topkhana-Kurdimir fields in Sulaymaniyah Governorate.
alforatnews.iq
