Kurdistan waves to export oil

This threat comes in response to what Baghdad has said yesterday that it had demanded Kurdistan to connect a new pipeline connecting line between Kirkuk and Ceyhan in Turkey, allowing Baghdad to measure the level of crudeflow.

The Minister of Natural Resources of KRG said in a statement received by "Shafaq News" that “If Baghdad government didn’t secure the rights of Kurdistan Region in the permanent constitution, we will resort to an alternative plan that requires exporting oil and deduct dues of those companies from its revenues”.

The Kurdish minister added that Kurdistan will pay all financial dues to the international oil companies operating in the region and from the proceeds of oil fields.

It is expected for Kurdistan to complete establishing a new pipeline which will have a capacity of 300 thousand barrels per day and will be extended to Turkey in the coming weeks which will enhance the control of KRG on the disputed resources with Baghdad.

Shahristani said on the sidelines of an energy forum in Dubai on Tuesday that he asked KRG to connect the two lines before pumping station to determine the volume of crude flows, adding that Baghdad had not received any response.

There are no talks between the two parties at the present time to resolve the dispute on the entitlements of the oil companies operating in the region. Shahristani said there were no talks with companies or with KRG on oil payments.