Crude oil exports from Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region to Turkey were scheduled to restart at 0600 local time (0300 GMT) on Saturday, three sources familiar with the plans told Reuters on Friday.

Eight oil companies operating in Iraqi Kurdistan, representing over 90% of production, reached agreements in principle on Wednesday with Iraq’s federal and Kurdistan Regional Government to resume exports.

Iraq’s state oil company SOMO, which will transport crude oil via pipeline to Ceyhan port in Turkey, was not immediately available for comment.

One of the sources said the Kurdistan’s Ministry for Natural Resources sent a notification to oil companies operating in Kurdistan about the planned startup.

The Kurdistan Regional Government and Iraq’s Federal Oil Ministry did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

Flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline have been shut since March 2023, when the International Chamber of Commerce ordered Turkey to pay Iraq $1.5 billion in damages for unauthorised exports by the Kurdish regional authorities.
Source: Reuters