Kurdistan Regional Government decided to hand over all surplus crude to SOMO. Education Minister Alan Hama Saeed announced the move during a press briefing in Erbil.
He explained that the cabinet agreed last week to deliver every barrel that exceeds local demand. The Region currently consumes around 50,000 barrels of crude each day. Therefore, every additional amount will now be directed to SOMO. The decision came after a full cabinet vote, which showed clear unity among the ministers.
Baghdad has not yet issued any official response to this announcement. Still, the decision adds new momentum to ongoing discussions over crude management. Before March 2023, Kurdistan exported nearly 450,000 barrels per day through the Ceyhan port in Turkiye. However, those flows stopped after an arbitration case ruled in favor of Baghdad.
That suspension followed an earlier ruling in 2022 that removed the Region’s power to sell oil directly. After these legal battles, the federal cabinet introduced a framework in July 2025. Under that plan, Kurdistan must supply around 280,000 barrels per day to SOMO when exports restart.
This new decision highlights the Region’s effort to align energy policies with federal requirements. At the same time, it also creates expectations for a smoother export resumption in the near future. The move shows an important shift in strategy while signaling readiness for cooperation.