Latest news with #Iraq-TurkeyPipeline
Iraq Business
6 days ago
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq "to Resume Oil Exports via Turkiye this week"
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul Ghani, has reportedly announced that the country will resume crude oil exports through the Ceyhan pipeline to Turkiye either today (Wednesday) or tomorrow. Speaking during the inauguration of several oil station development and rehabilitation projects in Kirkuk, the Minister confirmed an initial export volume of 80,000 barrels per day, following an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) . It says he also noted a production boost at the wet oil station in northern Kirkuk, with an increase of 25,600 barrels per day, bringing the facility's total capacity to 90,000 barrels per day. The resumption of exports marks a significant step in restoring Iraq's northern oil flows, which have been suspended since March 2023 amid legal and political disputes. (Source: INA) Tags: Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), Ceyhan, cg, featured, Genel Energy, GKP, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Iraq Oil Exports News, Iraq Oil Production News, Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP), Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline, KRG, Kurdistan News, Ministry of Oil, oil contracts, oil revenues, State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), Turkey, Turkiye
Shafaq News
24-07-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Nechirvan Barzani: The Man with the Map
Shafaq News In a region marked by overlapping crises and fragile political alignments, Nechirvan Barzani—President of the Kurdistan Region—has remained a consistent, though often low-profile, figure in high-stakes negotiations. His involvement spans Iraqi internal disputes, Kurdish reconciliation, and regional diplomacy. Rather than seeking the spotlight or confrontation, Barzani has favored strategic mediation and behind-the-scenes coordination—an approach aimed at maintaining dialogue and limiting escalation. Between Institutional Gridlock and Regional Pressure Amid Iraq's recurring constitutional stalemates—particularly after the 2021 elections—Barzani participated in initiatives encouraging dialogue among polarized blocs. His visit to Najaf alongside Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and Sunni Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, while not producing immediate outcomes, was interpreted by Baghdad officials as a move to preserve institutional continuity. Sources cited by Shafaq News viewed the meeting as important for maintaining communication, which later contributed to the formation of the federal cabinet in late 2022. In 2023, a new challenge arose when the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris ruled that Turkiye must pay Iraq approximately $1.5 billion for breaching the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) agreement by allowing unauthorized Kurdish oil exports. The ruling also halted oil loading and export operations through the pipeline, significantly impacting the Kurdistan Region's revenue. Despite the economic disruption, Barzani continued dialogue with Baghdad and sought alternatives. Although Turkiye did not resume pumping oil through the Kirkuk- Ceyhan line, discussions between Erbil and Baghdad remain ongoing. In early 2025, Barzani returned to Baghdad with proposals on oil revenue sharing, budget allocations, and disputed territories. According to sources within the State Administration Coalition, his approach focused on institutional frameworks over ad hoc arrangements. Presidential spokesperson Delshad Shihab stated that Barzani's repeated visits to Baghdad are aligned with a strategy based on constitutional dialogue. While views differ on the long-term outcomes of this approach, it has been credited with reducing the risk of further deterioration in federal-Kurdish relations. Mediating Between Turkiye and the PKK Barzani has also been involved in efforts to address the long-standing conflict between Turkiye and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Diplomatic sources told Shafaq News that, beginning in 2022, he hosted informal meetings in Erbil between Turkish officials and Kurdish figures. These dialogues aimed to encourage political engagement over military escalation. A significant development came in May 2025, when the PKK's military wing announced its dissolution. Some Turkish Kurdish sources linked the move to 'moral and political guarantees' associated with Barzani's role. Former PKK-affiliated officials described his involvement as going beyond facilitation, suggesting he provided assurances to support the process. While the broader implications of this development remain to be seen, observers view Barzani's efforts as part of wider attempts to shift dynamics along the Turkey-Kurdistan Region border. Crisis Management During Iran-Israel War Barzani's role during the Iran-Israel escalation in spring 2025 also drew attention. Amid Iranian accusations that Israel was operating from within the Kurdistan Region, local authorities increased security measures around the Harir airbase and eastern border areas. Tasnim, a media outlet affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, noted these actions positively, suggesting they contributed to preventing confrontation. While this aligns with Iranian strategic messaging, it also reflects a degree of acknowledgment of the Kurdistan Region's efforts to manage the situation. Unofficial Channels In Syria Reports have also linked Barzani to informal diplomacy concerning the Syrian Kurdish file. Al Monitor and Middle East Eye cited anonymous sources describing him as a go-between for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Ankara, and Washington. One example came in July 2025, when US envoy Tom Barrack met SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in Amman. Al Monitor reported that this shift in tone may have been facilitated through indirect mediation by Barzani. Although not confirmed officially, his longstanding relations with Ankara and elements of the Syrian Kurdish movement lend some credibility to these accounts. A Deliberate Political Style According to Delshad Shihab, 'President Nechirvan Barzani always emphasizes that the interest of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region lies in avoiding entanglement in regional conflicts that could harm their people. He believes that neutrality is a strategic choice, not just a posture.' Unlike some regional leaders, Barzani generally refrains from public confrontation. His political approach—often described by supporters as pragmatic and measured—has allowed him to maintain dialogue with a range of actors across Iraq's political spectrum. Former Kurdistan Parliament member Ali Hussein Faily noted that Barzani's influence does not stem from public rhetoric but from his calculated and discreet methods. Strategic Mediator or Regional Actor? Ali Hussein Faily, who accompanied Barzani on various diplomatic missions, remarked that Barzani avoids aligning with combative political camps and instead positions himself as a facilitator. According to Faily, his ability to remain engaged with multiple sides has preserved his credibility. He added that Barzani's engagement with international and regional actors has contributed to reshaping Erbil's profile 'from a post-conflict city into a center for commerce, diplomacy, and tourism. Developments in infrastructure and international outreach are cited as part of a vision for stability, though assessments of this trajectory vary.' While perspectives on Barzani's style and effectiveness differ, his involvement across multiple arenas—from federal negotiations to regional diplomacy—reflects a growing role. Whether this translates into durable political shifts remains uncertain, but his presence in sensitive negotiations and the trust he commands across diverse actors continue to make him a notable figure in the region's evolving landscape.
Iraq Business
15-07-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
APIKUR Welcomes Intensified Talks to Resume Oil Exports
By John Lee. The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR) has welcomed it described as renewed and intensified negotiations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Government of Iraq (GoI) aimed at resuming oil exports via the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline (ITP). The statement follows a high-level meeting held on 12th July 2025 between International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the Kurdistan Region - including APIKUR members - and representatives of both the KRG and GoI. During the meeting, IOCs reaffirmed their readiness to immediately resume oil exports once binding agreements are signed that ensure: Payment certainty for future exports, consistent with each company's existing, legally valid contracts; A mechanism for settling outstanding arrears, to be agreed individually with each company; Transparent and prompt payments, either in cash or via in-kind transfers of crude oil entitlements. Full statement from APIKUR: Member companies of the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR) are pleased to note that the negotiations between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Government of Iraq (GoI) have intensified to reach agreement to resume of oil exports via the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline (ITP), with the goal to do so in the near term. Ahead of these discussions, APIKUR member companies and representatives of other International Oil Companies (IOCs) active in the Kurdistan region of Iraq participated in a meeting on July 12, 2025 with officials from the KRG and the GoI. In this meeting, IOCs reiterated that they are prepared to immediately resume exports through the ITP once binding agreements are in place that ensure payment certainty for such exports which reflect each IOC's existing, legally valid contractual terms as well as resolution of the outstanding payment arrears to be agreed with each company. All payments to be made promptly and transparently in a manner acceptable to the IOCs and the KRG, either in cash or through the transfer of their entitlement share of oil " in kind. " " APIKUR member companies stand ready to resume exports as soon as written agreements are executed that honor our existing contracts which are governed by international law, " said Myles B. Caggins III, spokesman for the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan. " APIKUR has always firmly held that our members' production sharing contracts must be honored in every respect and members have never participated in any meetings with any governmental body suggesting otherwise. " (Source: APIKUR) Tags: Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), Ceyhan, cg, featured, Genel Energy, GKP, Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Iraq Oil Exports News, Iraq Oil Production News, Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP), Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline, KRG, Kurdistan News, Ministry of Oil, oil contracts, oil revenues, Turkey, Turkiye
Iraq Business
15-06-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Will end to Pipeline Feud revive flow of Iraqi Oil to Israel?
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Deep Dive: Will end to pipeline feud revive flow of Iraqi oil to Israel? After a glimpse of progress, Baghdad's spat with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over the future of the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) is flaring up. While a budget amendment in March raised hopes of a breakthrough and the reopening of the pipeline, which has been closed since an international arbitration ruling in 2023, negotiations have broken down. Amid heated rhetoric, the crisis has led the federal government to cut salary payments to the 1.2M public sector workers on the KRG's payroll. The full article can be viewed here.
Iraq Business
06-06-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
"Catch 16" and the Resumption of Oil Exports from Kurdistan
By Ahmed Tabaqchali, Chief Strategist of Asia Frontier Capital (AFC) Iraq Fund , for the London School of Economics (LSE) Middle East Centre. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News . Catch 16: The Issue Bedevilling the Resumption of Crude Exports through the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline The standoff over the resumption of crude exports through the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline (ITP) continues with no end in sight, with each side claiming that exports could resume, if it were not for the other side. The last meeting, between Iraq's Federal Ministry of Oil (MoO) and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), eight of which are represented by the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), ended with no resolution, much as all prior meetings did. Click here to read the full article. Tags: Ahmed Tabaqchali, Ceyhan, cl, featured, Iraq Oil Exports News, Iraq Oil Production News, Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP), KRG, Kurdistan News, oil contracts, oil revenues, Turkey, Turkiye
