All oil fields in the Kurdistan Region have resumed exports to global markets, supplying 190,000 barrels per day, confirmed Khazal Auzer, Director General of Contracts and Economic Affairs at the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources. The resumption comes after more than two-and-a-half years of suspension.
Auzer explained that the halt had severely affected local oil companies. “Kurdish oil was blocked from international markets, forcing companies to sell at below-market prices. This reduced investment and production,” she said. She emphasized that renewed exports allow firms to recover, boost production, and reinvest in their fields.
Exports flow through the Peshkabour station to Türkiye’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Under a trilateral framework with the Iraqi Federal Oil Ministry and international oil companies, crude is transferred to SOMO, Iraq’s state marketer, which sells it on international markets. The agreement envisions daily production of 240,000 barrels, with 190,000 exported and 50,000 reserved for domestic use.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani hailed the milestone as a “great achievement for all Iraqis,” highlighting the role of the United States in supporting the process. He stressed that the resumption strengthens the Kurdistan Region’s economic infrastructure and benefits all citizens.
Director General Ali Nizar of SOMO noted that Kurdish oil is strategically important for Europe as an alternative to Russian crude. North and South American markets will also benefit from these supplies. International oil companies operating in the Kurdistan Region will receive $16 per barrel for production and transport costs, with payments processed via the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Auzer underlined that the resumption addresses technical challenges caused by years of halted flow. Production declined during the stoppage, but fields are expected to gradually recover. She also stressed that financial certainty is essential for companies to fund continued operations and ensure accountability.
The resumption of Kurdistan oil exports restores a vital revenue source and reaffirms the region’s role as a reliable contributor to global energy markets. Analysts say it strengthens transatlantic energy security, provides Europe with a stable alternative to Russian energy, and marks renewed momentum for both the Kurdistan Region’s economy and Iraq’s broader energy sector.