Tag Archives | Kurdistan News

The latest news from Kurdistan – security updates, reconstruction and more – brought to you by Iraq Business News.

Gulf Keystone Half-Year Report To June 2012

Gulf Keystone, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, today announces its results for the six months ended 30 June 2012. HIGHLIGHTS Operational - to 30 June 2012 and post period end Shaikan (75% working interest; Operator) [Shaikan-2 is pictured.] · 83% increase in gross […]

Afren Begins Drilling Simrit-3 Well

Afren, one of the 250 biggest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, in conjunction with operator Hunt Oil, has commenced exploration drilling at the East Simrit prospect located on the Ain Sifni PSC in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Simrit-3 well is located approximately 10 km east of the successful Simrit-2 discovery well, […]

Baghdad Seeks To Get A Grip On Oil Deals

As senior politicians in Baghdad get more enraged about oil majors circumventing them to make "illegal" oil deals with Kurdistan in the north of the country, Iraqi newspaper Azzaman believes the oil majors have finally got the message, or have at least started to take it seriously. Just 50 companies have attended an oil expo […]

DNO International Finds Oil At Benenan-3

Oslo-based DNO International has struck more recoverable oil in the northern Kurdistan region of Iraq. The find is at its Benenan-3 well at around 2,000 meters. The company is investigating the discovery further. The find adds to its wells in the Tawke fields, one of which is set to spud in October, which will help […]

Genel's Hayward Expects Resolution to Kurdistan Oil Crisis

By John Lee. Baghdad and Erbil both have too much at stake not to settle their dispute over oil, although they may take a year or so to do it, Genel Energy Chief Executive Tony Hayward (pictured) told Reuters. "The scale of the opportunity for Kurdistan and for Iraq is so large that there will […]

Kurdistan Oil Dispute Must be Resolved Soon

By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has extended its deadline for the federal government to pay the money it says it is due in respect of oil exports to 15th September, after which time it will again halt exports of Kurdish crude. Baghdad, on the other hand, has threatened to trim Erbil's budget […]

Baghdad may Cut Kurdistan Budget over Oil Dispute

By John Lee. Iraq's central government is considering trimming federal budget payments to the country's Kurdistan by more than $3 billion to cover losses it says came from the autonomous region's oil exports, reports Reuters. Ali al-Moussawi, advisor to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said a committee found losses of more than $3 billion resulting from […]

Kurdistan to Continue Exporting Oil Until mid-Sept

By John Lee. Iraq's Kurdistan is to continue pumping oil for export until 15th September, extending its deadline for the central government to make disputed payments to companies working in the region. The KRG had halted exports for several months from the start of April over $1.5 billion it said was owed to foreign oil […]

Sterling Energy Updates on Sangaw North

By John Lee. Sterling Energy Plc has announced the following updates in the Sangaw North Production Sharing Contract ("PSC") in Kurdistan: 2D Seismic Acquisition: The acquisition of 2D seismic data in the Sangaw North PSC, which commenced in July, has now been completed. 117 km of data was successfully acquired and is now being processed, […]

Japanese Ambassador Thanks KRG for Support

Outgoing Japanese Ambassador Susumu Hasegawa met on Wednesday with President Barzani to bid him farewell as he prepares to leave Iraq. Ambassador Hasegawa thanked the President and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for their support and assistance. He discussed Japan’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as the projects that Japanese institutions […]

Friend or Foe? Baghdad and Erbil’s ‘Arms Race’

By Hoshnag Ose. This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. A recent stoush between Iraqi and Iraqi Kurdish forces near the Syrian border is a symptom of the “arms race” between the two. They act more […]

KRG Warns on Oil Exports

By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government has again warned Baghdad that it will stop exporting oil if the central government continues withholding payments to the oil companies operating in the region. The KRG has set 1st September as the start date for halting oil exports. An official has said Baghdad has not given any […]