Page 7 - MEOG Week 20 2022

MEOG POLICY & SECURITY MEOG

KRG plays down accusations

of oilfield seizure

IRAQ/KURDISTAN THE Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) solve problems, there must be a legislation of the
this week denied claims that its forces had taken oil and gas law based on the constitution.”
control of fields operated by Iraq’s North Oil Co. The Avanna Dome and Bai Hassan assets had
(NOC). been under Kurdish control for several years
The denial followed accusations by NOC until Iraqi forces retook the fields following an
that Kurdish troops had arrived with a techni- independence referendum held by the KRG.
cal team from the Kurdistan Region and taken Exports under state oil marketer Somo and
over wells at the Bai Hassan and Dawd Gurg oil- exports via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline ran at
fields north-west of Kirkuk, accusing the KRG of 46,740 bpd in March, a marked drop from the
“unconstitutional” behaviour. Production from 82,118 bpd exported in January owing to the
Bai Hassan was reported to be running at around outbreak of a fire on the pipeline late that month.
70,000 barrels per day, but estimates suggest it Independent oil sales have been a major issue
could be closer to 85,000 bpd. for relations between Baghdad and Erbil and
A spokesperson for the Kurdish authorities have proved thorny enough an issue to prevent
said: “The Kurdistan Regional Government billions of dollars in budget share being trans-
denies all allegations that the KRG, with the sup- ferred to the latter.
port of the armed forces, has taken over Bai Has- Erbil produced 474,000 bpd in April, and
san and Dawd Gurg oilfields in Kirkuk, which exports around 340,000 bpd of crude inde-
are operated by the North Oil Co.” pendently from Baghdad using a pipeline which
The statement added: “Public wealth is owned links to the Turkish section of Kirkuk-Ceyhan
by all Iraqis according to the Iraqi constitution via metering stations at the border town of
and not one company … If [NOC] was keen to Fishkhabour.™

Week 20 18•May•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P7