Gasoline prices in the governorates of Erbil and Duhok remain significantly higher than those in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, with motorists paying up to 200 Iraqi dinars more per liter despite the allocation of locally produced crude oil for fuel production within the Kurdistan Region.

The price differences apply to all grades of gasoline, including Regular, Premium, and Super fuels.

Price Differences Across the Region

According to current market prices, one liter of Regular gasoline is sold for 1,050 Iraqi dinars in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, compared with 1,175 dinars in Erbil and Duhok.

Premium gasoline is priced at 1,250 dinars per liter in Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, while consumers in Erbil and Duhok pay approximately 1,450 dinars per liter.

The price disparity exists despite the allocation of approximately 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the Kurdistan Region's production for refining petroleum products.

Comparison With Federal Iraq

Fuel prices in the Kurdistan Region remain substantially higher than those in federal Iraq, where government subsidies keep gasoline prices lower.

In Baghdad, subsidized Regular gasoline is sold at approximately 450 Iraqi dinars per liter, less than half the price paid by consumers in parts of the Kurdistan Region.

Refining and Supply

According to reports and market investigations, approximately 50,000 barrels of crude oil are allocated daily to local refineries, including the Kar and Lanaz facilities, for the production of petroleum products.

The refineries reportedly receive a refining fee of approximately $17 per barrel under arrangements intended to support domestic fuel supplies.

Industry sources indicate that only part of the refined gasoline reaches local markets, while other refined products are sold at market prices. In addition, fuel oil generated during the refining process is marketed separately.

Regional Fuel Demand

Officials estimate that the daily gasoline demand in the Kurdistan Region reaches approximately 5.5 million liters.

The allocated crude oil is estimated to produce around 2.5 million liters of gasoline per day after refining and blending processes that include octane-enhancing additives.

To help meet remaining demand, approximately 18,000 barrels of condensate are produced daily from gas fields operated by Dana Gas and processed at refineries in Sulaymaniyah governorate, generating an estimated 1.1 million liters of gasoline.

Exports and Supply Challenges

Industry sources indicate that part of the fuel refined in the Kurdistan Region is transported by tanker to neighboring Turkey, reducing the volume available for local consumption.

Additional fuel supplies entering the region from other parts of Iraq also contribute to meeting local demand.

The issue of fuel pricing and supply continues to draw public attention as consumers in different governorates face varying prices despite the region's domestic oil production and refining capacity.