Federal Iraq’s exports of Kirkuk crude through Turkey fell to just 47,000 b/d in March according to Oil Ministry figures. This was the lowest since January 2020 and well below the normal levels of around 100,000 b/d. Volumes have been below normal levels since November 2021, but fell sharply in February to 52,000 b/d before dropping again last month.
A senior Iraqi official tells MEES that the drop was the result of state-owned North Oil Company (NOC) experiencing mechanical problems at its upstream operations. NOC operates federal fields in northern Iraq, including Bai Hassan and the Kirkuk field’s Avana and Baba domes. According to the official, the production drop-off also resulted in a reduction in crude supplies to northern refineries, which helps explain the drop in refinery throughputs from the 2021 average of 517,000 b/d to less than 490,000 b/d since December. (CONTINUED - 199 WORDS)
