KRG "can be Self-Sufficient in Months"

By John Lee.

Ashti Hawrami (pictured), KRG energy minister, has said that Iraqi Kurdistan is expected to reach financial self-sufficiency from Baghdad within months, despite central government withholding the region’s 17 percent share of budget.

Speaking to Rudaw, he outlined plans to increase oil production to 750,000 bpd by the end of this year.

In a separate statement this week, the KRG said it has honored 97 percent of its commitments under the oil agreement with Baghdad, but said the central government has lived up to only 20 percent of its financial obligations.

(Source: Rudaw)