The Iraqi Oil Minister and the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR) have provided contradictory statements regarding the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.

While the Iraqi Oil Minister stated that exports would resume in the coming hours, with an initial 185,000 barrels to be exported, APIKUR clarified that they would not be resuming exports today.

Iraqi Prime Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani announced that Iraq would officially confirm the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region in the coming hours.

He also mentioned that 185,000 barrels per day would be sold through SOMO initially, with plans to gradually increase exports according to Iraq’s general budget.

Subsequently, APIKUR informed Channel8 that its member companies are prepared to resume oil exports from the Kurdistan Region. However, exports will only resume once the companies are treated in line with existing legal contracts, trade guidelines, agreements to recover past financial entitlements, and future wage guarantees.

APIKUR further stated that no official written procedure has been received by its member companies regarding the resumption of oil exports.

KRG’s oil exports have been suspended for nearly two years. As per Iraq’s budget law, the Kurdistan Region is required to export at least 400,000 barrels of oil per day.