Iraq/Kurdistan: Kirkuk Oil Exports in Focus: How And Why?

Dec 11, 2014 | Muhammed Hadi, Rudaw
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Why did Baghdad agree to exporting Kirkuk oil via the Kurdistan Region? And what will happen if the oil fields produce more than the amount agreed?

The Kirkuk oil fields, which produce 400,000-500,000 barrels per day (bpd) have caused much controversy amid the Baghdad-Erbil oil and budget agreement.

The deal stipulates that Erbil must export 550,000 bpd to the Ceyhan port through the Kurdistan-Turkey pipelines. Of this, 250,000 bpd will come from the Kurdistan Region’s own oil fields, and the remaining 300,000 are to come from the Bai Hassan, Havana, and Dubis fields in Kirkuk province. The exports will be overseen by the Iraqi oil marketing company, SOMO.