As Iraqi Kurdistan struggles to cope with the political maelstrom unleashed by its controversial 25 September independence referendum, support from Russia is crystalizing. President Vladimir Putin has called on neighboring countries to moderate restrictions on the region and its oil sector – no surprise as Russian firms have been expanding their presence in recent months (MEES, 16 June).
Turkey, which has been the KRG’s key ally in recent years, has threatened to close the taps on Kurdish crude exports (MEES, 29 September). All of Kurdistan’s approximately 550,000 b/d exports flow through Turkey, primarily through a 700,000 b/d pipeline to Ceyhan. Iraq meanwhile has called for the KRG to return fields to Baghdad’s North Oil Company (NOC) which produce around 300,000 b/d, primarily the giant Kirkuk field. (CONTINUED - 1058 WORDS)
