Iraq's Kurdish region to export oil for first time

Iraq’s self-ruled Kurdish region will begin exporting crude oil for the first time on June 1, piping up to 90,000 bpd to its neighbours in a landmark step for the area, officials said on Sunday.

Companies chosen by the regional government will pump oil from two Kurdish fields via an Iraqi pipeline to Turkey with the consent of Baghdad in a step that could pave the way to ending bitter domestic feuds over Iraq’s oil wealth.
Initial exports will be around 40,000 barrels per day from the Taq Taq field in the province of Arbil and another 50,000 bpd from the Tawke field in Dohuk, company officials told AFP.

“Piping of the oil will start Monday morning from the Taq Taq field, pumping it from seven wells,” said Mohammed Okotan, director of the Taq Taq project for Turkey’s Genel Enerji, which is partnered with Calgary-based Addax Petroleum.

“We will try to reach 60,000 barrels a day by the end of this year,” said Okotan, adding that the project aims to double exports in two years.

AFP