AK News reported that the Kurdistan Regional Government should not sign any oil and gas deals with the foreign countries independently from Baghdad.

Mr Faysal Abddulla head of the office of Hussein al Shahrestani deputy PM for energy affairs said that followed KRG's announcement of a plan to export gas to Turkey after 2 years, directly and independently of Baghdad.

He said that the KRG or the provinces do not have the right to make contracts with foreign countries with regard to exporting oil, gas or oil derivations this is the exclusive task of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil.

Mr Abdulla noted Ankara has also signed a protocol with the Iraqi Ministry of Oil which requires Turkey to deal directly with the Ministry for contracts related to oil and gas. Contrary to this is not right and is rejected by the Iraqi government.

Kurdistan oil reserves amount to 45 billion barrels. In 2003 KRG began investment in its oil fields. However, Baghdad does not recognize Kurdistan oil contracts as legal. Disputes over the oil contracts have strained the relations between Baghdad and Erbil.

Source - AK News

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