Turkey has signed with Kurdistan region, energy agreements worth billions of dollars in late November, sparking the anger of Baghdad, which says that it has the only authority regarding oil exports and fears of any move that could widen political autonomy in the region.
Turkey has made unremitting efforts to obtain the approval of Baghdad, which says that any oil deals signed by Kurdistan Regional Government is illegal, but the central government has so far not shown any signs of retreat from its position.
A source in industry sector said in a statement briefed by “Shafaq News “that " these are tests to pump limited quantities ... as quantities are not large enough to start exporting.”
He added that it appears that Turkey and Kurdistan Regional Government are proceeding on the road towards the implementation of their agreements for oil and gas that has been signed last month.
“Turkey has repeatedly said that it wants a comprehensive agreement that includes Baghdad also, but said that it would stick to its agreement with the Kurds,” The source said.
Baghdad says that it has the only right on power over Iraq's oil exports , while Kurdistan Regional Government says that it has the right to sell oil independently and built recently its own pipeline to export crude oil to Turkey , according to Reuters .
Turkey relies heavily on imports to satisfy its growing energy appetite and want to help Kurdistan with oil in diversifying its energy supplies.