Türkiye announces the date for resuming the export of Kurdistan region’s oil via the Ceyhan line

[yota691]

Al-Monitor: The negotiations between Baghdad and Ankara did not reach a conclusion, and these are the reasons

2023.08.23 - 12:15

 

Baghdad - Nas  

The American Al-Monitor website said that negotiations between Iraq and Turkey failed to resume oil exports through the port of Ceyhan, after the Iraqi oil minister's meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara ended without result.  

 

According to the site's report, followed by "NAS", (August 23, 2023), Turkey's excuse for continuing to suspend oil is that the pipelines are not in a good condition to resume oil exports, and the oil refinery tanks in Ceyhan port need to be inspected.  

  

The report stated: The real reason for not allowing Turkey to resume oil exports is Baghdad's refusal to waive the compensation imposed by the International Arbitration Court on Ankara amounting to 1 billion 500 million dollars, while abandoning the second complaint registered in 2018_2022.  

  

The report believes that the strong Iranian pressure on the Iraqi government is one of the reasons why Baghdad did not agree to Turkey's conditions for resuming oil exports. In addition to pressure to disarm Kurdish opposition groups, Iran wants to reveal the strategic relationship between Erbil and Ankara, which dates back to the early 1990s.  

  

On the other hand, officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government are trying to pressure Hakan Fidan to resume oil exports to Turkey, and then sign an agreement with Baghdad, according to the American website report.  

[yota691]

A source reveals Turkish conditions for resuming the export of Kurdistan's oil

2023.08.23 - 13:20

 

Baghdad - Nas  

The Norwegian oil company, DNO, announced its resumption of oil production from the fields of Kurdistan, after it stopped doing so since last March, following the decision of the International Commercial Arbitration Court in Paris that the region's export of oil extracted from its fields was "illegal" without the "approval" of the central government. .  

 

The Norwegian company’s announcement indicates that the date for the return of the Kurdistan region’s oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan is near, as information was circulated that the tripartite joint technical committees, between the Iraqi central government, the Kurdistan region and Turkey, are holding intensive sessions to reach consensus among them, before the expected visit. From Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in the coming days, to sign the agreement and return exports.  

  

According to the data announced by the Norwegian company, its production is about 40,000 barrels per day from the "Tawki field", near the city of Zakho, in the far northwest of the region, and half of it is sold directly to buyers and local investors, especially for industrial use, and the other half to the Kurdistan Regional Government, which uses it. for the benefit of its operating institutions. This constitutes about 8 percent of the region's total production capacity, which is estimated at about 500,000 barrels per day.  

  

There was a traditional dispute between the central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government regarding the "entitlement" to extract, invest and export oil, which extended throughout the years between 2014 and 2023, until the two parties agreed to hand over oil production in the region to the National Oil Extracts Promotion Company "SOMO", in exchange for the region obtaining 12.67 percent of the general budget, until a consensus is reached on the “oil and gas law” and its approval by the Iraqi parliament, no later than the end of this year.  

  

Turkish terms  

  

According to special information obtained by An-Nahar Al-Arabi, there is a whole package of Turkish conditions, and Ankara says that it will not accept the resumption of exporting the region's oil before it is achieved. It is calling on the Iraqi authorities to withdraw the lawsuit it filed against Turkey at the International Commercial Arbitration Court in the French capital, Paris, which fined the Turkish side $1.5 billion.  

  

It also calls on Turkey to obtain a permanent reduction in the oil it imports for local use from the oil of the Kurdistan region, in addition to obligating Iraq to pay $7 for each barrel of oil exported through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, and to undertake to repair the oil pipeline, and to pay the wages of the Turkish companies operating the pipeline, which have accumulated over the past months. And along with it, some political conditions, such as cooperation on the security file, and acceptance of Turkish military and political influence inside Iraq.  

  

"biting fingers"  

  

Researcher and writer Shivan Rasool calls the current situation between Turkey and Iraq a "finger-biting strategy," and he says in an interview with the same website: "It seems that the Iraqi central government is rushing to export the oil of the Kurdistan region via Turkey, in order to cover the deficit in the budget approved by the Iraqi parliament. Because failure to do so may bring the deficit to more than 30 percent, which is what pushes Turkey to escalate its conditions permanently.But there is another picture of the scene: Turkey is witnessing an economic crisis severely affecting social stability in it, especially since the companies contributing to the oil file are close to the party. Justice and Development and part of its internal influence.Also, if Iraq manages to re-establish the local pipeline network capable of linking the fields of the Kurdistan region with its national counterpart, and thus the possibility of exporting through the port of Basra, then it will completely dispense with exporting through Turkey.  

  

rights of foreign companies  

  

The foreign oil companies investing in the Kurdistan region had invited the Iraqi central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to take into account their rights in the "oil and gas law", which is to be completed in the coming months, recalling their financial losses as a result of stopping oil exports from the Kurdistan region, and the incompatibility between the two governments of the central authority. and territory.  

  

These companies had also pressed and demanded that the United States intervene and mediate between the Iraqi government and its Turkish counterpart, in order to resume exporting the region's oil, which the US administration promised more than once.  

  

Neither party has set a date for the Turkish president's visit to Iraq, but senior political sources confirm that it will take place within the next two weeks, and will focus on three common files, foremost of which is the partnership in the field of oil export, and alongside it the military presence in the mountainous regions of northern Iraq and within the Kurdistan region, in addition to To the internal political situation in Iraq.  

[yota691]

US site surprises the Iraqis with this news

• Time: 08/23/2023 16:37:13
•  
• Read: 1,898 times

  

{International: Al-Furat News} The American Al-Monitor website announced today, Wednesday, the failure of negotiations between Iraq and Turkey to resume oil exports through the port of Ceyhan, after the Iraqi oil minister's meeting with his Turkish counterpart in Ankara ended without result.

 

According to the site's report, Turkey's argument for continuing to suspend oil is that the pipelines are not in a good condition to resume oil exports, and the oil refinery tanks in the port of Ceyhan need to be inspected.

The report stated that the real reason for not allowing Turkey to resume oil exports is Baghdad's refusal to waive the compensation imposed by the International Arbitration Court on Ankara amounting to 1 billion 500 million dollars, while abandoning the second complaint registered in 2018_2022. 

Yesterday, Tuesday, Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani met with Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alp Arslan Bayraktar in Ankara to discuss a number of bilateral and regional issues of common concern, according to the ministry's statement.

Baghdad and Ankara agreed on the importance of resuming the flow of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil to Turkey, after completing the rehabilitation of pipelines, which were damaged by the devastating earthquake that occurred last February (2023).

[6ly410]

The quotas of the governorates have arrived. And the territory is watching

The oil deal is not everything. What is the reason for the difference that "reserves" Kurdistan's budget so far?

Politics | Today, 21:46 | 

    The oil deal is not everything. What is the reason for the difference that "reserves" Kurdistan's budget so far? » Baghdad News Agency (baghdadtoday.news)

Baghdad Today - Sulaymaniyah

It seems that the initial information about the complexity of the agreement between Baghdad and Erbil due to "non-oil revenues" began to reach a serious stage, and despite the federal government began more than a month ago to implement the budget items and circulate its instructions to the ministries, but it has not sent the dues of the Kurdistan region from the budget so far, despite receiving responsibility for oil operations in the region, to begin a new phase of disagreement entitled "non-oil revenues".

Although the Kurdistan region "opened all papers" and figures regarding all oil and non-oil revenues and expenditures before the Financial Supervision Bureau, the problem with regard to non-oil revenues is summarized in two points, the first purely material, and the other moral.

The material point, according to information and statements, is that Erbil agrees with Baghdad regarding the delivery of 50% of the revenues of ports and customs, but Baghdad insists on receiving 50% of all non-oil revenues and even internal taxes.

As for the moral paragraph, it is that Baghdad wants to receive all non-oil revenues and revenues from ports, and then return to send 50% of them to the provinces, including the provinces of the Kurdistan region, that is, handing over to Sulaymaniyah half of the revenues of its ports, as well as Erbil and Dohuk separately, which Erbil does not agree with, and sees it as a transaction that "divides" the region into governorates, enhances centralization and strikes the idea of a federal region.

Two months' salaries. "A gesture of goodwill"

MP for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Gharib Ahmed, confirmed today, Wednesday (August 23, 2023), that technical differences regarding non-oil revenues and Baghdad's way of dealing with the region are what postponed the process of sending financial dues to the region.

Ahmed said in an interview with "Baghdad Today" that "early next week, Baghdad will send the salaries of regional employees for the months of July and August as a first step."

"Baghdad wants to deal with the provinces of the region directly and to hand over all financial dues by itself, and it sends the 50% of the ports' revenues to the provinces directly," he said.

He explained that "the first step of the federal government is to send the salaries of the two months as a first step, and after the understanding on the other technical points, all financial dues for the current year will be sent, provided that the financial advances sent to the region during the past months are deducted."

The region is "not a province"

In the same context, the spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government, Peshwa Hormani, said on Wednesday to "Baghdad Today", that "if the regional government implements all the requests and conditions of Baghdad, Baghdad will set other conditions in the new meeting, and this matter does not prove good intentions, to resolve differences."

He added, "The regional government has committed to all agreements, but this does not mean accepting the marginalization of constitutional rights that try to detract from the entity of the Kurdistan region, since the region is not a province, and it has a government and a parliament, and Baghdad must deal with it according to this basis."

[6ly410]

A new phase in the Baghdad and Erbil dispute. Case beyond funds and threatens "federal entity" - urgent

Politics | Today, 22:33 | 

    A new phase in the Baghdad and Erbil dispute. A case that exceeds funds and threatens the "federal entity" - URGENT » Baghdad Today News Agency

 

Baghdad Today - Baghdad

Sabah Hassan, a former member of the Finance Committee for the fifth session of the Kurdistan Regional Parliament, said on Thursday (August 24, 2023) that Baghdad wants to underestimate the constitutional value of the region.

Hassan said in an interview with "Baghdad Today" that "there is a political attempt in Baghdad to detract from the constitutional entity of the Kurdistan region through the imposition of illegal conditions."

"The adoption of the oil and gas law will solve the most prominent outstanding problems between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, but Baghdad's quest to impose its control over all Kurdistan's revenues is unachievable, as the region is a constitutional entity and has its own government, parliament and system," he said.

It is clear that the dispute between Baghdad and Erbil has entered a new phase different from its predecessors, as the matter went beyond the issue of controlling the operations of the oil sector and exporting or receiving half of the non-oil revenues, as the differences revolve around the mechanisms of receiving and delivering money, as the region believes that these mechanisms threaten the region's entity as a federal area.

Although the Kurdistan region "opened all papers" and figures regarding all oil and non-oil revenues and expenditures before the Financial Supervision Bureau, the problem with regard to non-oil revenues is summarized in two points, the first purely material, and the other moral.

The material point, according to what information and statements reveal, is that Erbil agrees with Baghdad regarding the delivery of 50% of the revenues of ports and customs, but Baghdad insists on receiving 50% of all non-oil revenues and even internal taxes.

As for the moral paragraph, it is that Baghdad wants to receive all non-oil revenues and revenues from ports, and then return to send 50% of them to the provinces, including the governorates of the Kurdistan region, that is, handing over to Sulaymaniyah half of the revenues of its ports, as well as Erbil and Dohuk separately, which Erbil does not agree with, and sees it as a transaction that "divides" the region into governorates, enhances centralization and strikes the idea of a federal region.

 

[ametad]

There’s a few things I think of while reading these articles.

 

1. Connect the national pipelines, focuses the energy inside Iraq rather than into and through Turkey. Run the oil to Basra in the South and abandon the Northern route through Turkey. 
 

2. Kurdish region, you are not your own country. Deal with it. The surrounding international and regional communities do not honor your referendum. I get it, you want to be a country, you are not. That’s the hard reality of it all.

 

3. Kurds/Iraq spend your energy focusing inside Iraq and bolster the strength in the North. Don’t concede to outside countries, maintain your strategic relationships. Remember, the Turks want to obliterate the Kurds; that’s not gonna change, ever.

 

There they are, my thoughts. 

[gregp]

Here’s my thoughts. 
Same sand kicken. 
Different day. 

[yota691]

American magazine: Stopping the flow of Iraqi oil through Turkey will spark a war in Kurdistan.. What is Erdogan's position?

Policy

2023-08-26 | 06:31

 

 

 

3,723 views

 

 

Alsumaria News - Internationals

The American magazine "Foreign Policy" revealed the repercussions of stopping the flow of oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, while confirming that Erdogan blamed the internal disputes between the central government of Iraq and the Kurdistan region.

According to an economic analysis, by an expert in international law and a member of the executive board of the Turkish Atlantic Council, Amir Gurbuz, which he published in the American magazine, “nearly five months have passed since Turkey stopped the flow of oil through the pipeline between Iraq and Turkey, a step that came after That the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ruled over a nine-year legal dispute between the two countries.

 

 

He added, "Despite rumors that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a historic diplomatic visit to Baghdad this month to discuss restarting the oil pipeline, the economic, political and legal repercussions of the oil dispute are escalating with millions of barrels of oil still stuck in the ports." Despite the recent visit by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Baghdad, where he did not publicly acknowledge the oil blockade.

The magazine stated, "The dispute boils down to whether Turkey has breached the 50-year-old pipeline transit agreement by allowing oil to be exported from fields in areas controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government without Iraq's consent. But since the Paris Arbitration Court ruled on Iraq With $1.5 billion in compensation, Turkey's response - by blocking nearly 500,000 barrels per day from the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq destined for global markets via the port of Ceyhan - has sent shock waves through the oil sector and spurred regional, even global repercussions. ".

The report indicated, "Erdogan blamed the internal disputes between the central Iraqi government in Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq. But Iraqi officials and KRG officials deny this, and blame Turkey instead."

The magazine stated: “Although Turkey initially claimed that it was simply complying with the ICC ruling, it quickly emerged that it had been trying to negotiate a $1.5 billion compensation payment and a second arbitration solution with Iraq over unauthorized oil flows since 2018. And in At the same time, there were no signs of that. Turkey will resume the flow of oil anytime soon."

The report pointed out, "The embargo imposed by Turkey for a long time on Iraqi oil exports and its attempts to pressure Iraq to comply with its demands lead to the destabilization of a pipeline of central importance to regional and global economic stability," noting that "the pipeline was transporting about 10% of the total exports." Iraq, which is equivalent to 0.5% of global production, and Iraq is the second largest producer in OPEC.

And the magazine continued, "Turkey's immediate halt to exports led to a rise in global oil prices above $70 a barrel. Moreover, oil export revenues make up about 80% of the KRG's annual budget, putting the entire administration at risk."

And the report added: “As the blockade continued, which choked global crude oil supplies, it helped increase oil prices, which affected in particular the European Union, which significantly increased its imports of Iraqi oil to replace Russian gas. Italy, for example "It meets 13% of its demand for crude oil from Iraq, more than half of which comes from fields in northern Iraq that are controlled by the KRG. With the flow of oil from the KRG cut off, Europe is in a precarious situation with no quick and easy solution." .

And the magazine indicated, "The prolonged blockade, which has already cost the Kurdistan Regional Government more than $ 2 billion, could devastate the economy of northern Iraq and may lead to the collapse of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government," adding, "For many years, the economy of the government of "Kurdistan is suffering from budget cuts from the Iraqi federal government. If the situation remains unresolved, it could lead to a devastating migration wave; tens of thousands of Iraqi Kurds have already immigrated to Europe, and more could come in the near future."

The report stated, "The financial repercussions - large budget deficits in both the KRG and Baghdad - could lead to catastrophic instability in the region, something that armed groups such as the Islamic State could exploit, which could lead to more violence." Destabilization With KRG institutions virtually paralyzed in the aftermath of the oil export crisis, Iraq is at risk of losing its primary shield against the Islamic State - especially if KRG security forces are forced to divert resources to guarding its network of detention centers. to the Kurdistan Regional Government.

And the magazine added:

She stressed, "The stakes are high: the ongoing conflict threatens the collapse of US investments in Iraq, the economic destabilization of the Iraqi federal government, and the rush of Russia and Iran to fill the geopolitical vacuum. This impasse has led international oil companies in Iraq to reduce their investments by $400 million, and to lay off hundreds of workers." and the threat of legal action against governments deemed responsible. As the crisis continues, Iraq's reputation among investors will suffer increasingly."

The report continued, "The biggest risks come from what could happen if Erbil continues to lose billions of dollars in lost oil revenue due to the dispute over the pipeline. It is likely that some of its oil will find its way abroad through Iran, while Turkey may end up resorting to it." Iranian and Russian oil to meet its own demands. Eventually, the KRG—which depends on oil revenues to survive—could collapse, leading to a bureaucratic struggle between the two main rival factions, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the KDP, and possibly turning into a regional government. all-out civil war.

The report concluded: “Instability in Iraqi Kurdistan may also spill over into broader Iraq, which is already teetering on the brink of sectarian conflict. In the past year, Iran has launched attacks on alleged Iranian opposition groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, and its increasing meddling in the region has exacerbated political tensions. Among the Shiites, the fall of the KRG could create a vacuum that allows Iran to intensify its involvement, which could lead to an escalation of these escalating tensions and the threat of a nationwide civil war.

[yota691]

The oil agreement is not everything.. Why is the difference that “holds” Kurdistan’s budget so far?

 Two days ago

452

 

It seems that the initial information about the complexity of the agreement between Baghdad and Erbil due to “non-oil revenues” has begun to reach a serious stage, and despite the federal government starting more than a month ago to implement the budget items and circulate its instructions to the ministries, it has not yet sent the dues of the Kurdistan region from the budget Despite taking responsibility for the oil operations in the region, a new phase of the dispute began, titled “non-oil revenues.”

 

Although the Kurdistan region “opened all the papers” and figures regarding all oil and non-oil revenues and expenditures before the Office of Financial Supervision, the problem with regard to non-oil revenues is summarized in two points, the first is purely material, and the other is moral.

 

The material point, as the information and statements reveal, is that Erbil is in agreement with Baghdad regarding the delivery of 50% of the revenues of the ports and customs, but Baghdad insists on receiving 50% of all non-oil revenues and even internal taxes from them.

 

As for the moral clause, it is represented by the fact that Baghdad wants to receive all non-oil revenues and the revenues of the ports, and then return to send 50% of them to the governorates, including the governorates of the Kurdistan region, i.e. handing over half of the revenues of its ports to Sulaymaniyah, as well as Erbil and Dohuk separately, which is not agreed upon Erbil, and believes that it is a deal that “divides” the region into governorates, strengthens centralization and strikes at the idea of a federal region.

 

Two months’ salaries.. “a gesture of goodwill”

 

Representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Gharib Ahmed confirmed that the technical differences regarding non-oil revenues and the way Baghdad deals with the region is what delayed the process of sending financial dues to the region.

 

Ahmed said in a press interview seen by “Takadam” that “at the beginning of next week, Baghdad will send the salaries of the region’s employees for the months of July and August as a first step.”

 

He added, "Baghdad wants to deal with the provinces of the region directly and to deliver all financial dues by itself, and it sends 50% of the revenues of the ports to the provinces directly."

 

He explained that "the first step for the federal government is to send the salaries of the two months as a first step, and after understanding other technical points, all financial dues for the current year will be sent, provided that the financial advances that were sent to the region during the past months are deducted."

 

The region is not a province.

 

In the same context, the spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government, Peshwa Hormani, said, in a press interview seen by Taqaddam, that “if the regional government implements all of Baghdad’s requests and conditions, then Baghdad will set other conditions in the new meeting, and this matter does not prove good intentions, to resolve the differences.” .

 

He added, "The regional government abided by all agreements, but this does not mean accepting the marginalization of constitutional rights that are trying to detract from the entity of the Kurdistan region, because the region is not a governorate, and it has a government and parliament, and Baghdad must deal with it according to this basis."

[yota691]

Parliamentary Oil: Proposals to resume exporting crude through the port of Ceyhan

Iraq  2023/08/27

 

 

 Baghdad: Muhannad Abdel-Wahhab

The Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee stated that the Turkish delegation, which visited Iraq recently, proposed six conditions for resuming the export of crude through the port of Ceyhan, while specialists called for expediting the settlement of differences in this file.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Baghdad, to which he arrived last Tuesday on an official visit, during which he met with a group of political leaders to discuss a number of important issues and issues between the two countries, while stressing that Iraq is a priority in Ankara's foreign policy.

A member of the Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee, Sabah Sobhi, told Al-Sabah: The Turkish delegation’s visit to Iraq included a paper of basic conditions for negotiating the resumption of Iraqi oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, especially after the decision of the International Court to fine Turkey one billion and 400 million dollars for its contribution to selling oil outside the company. (sumo).

And he indicated that the Turkish delegation had previously visited Iraq and conducted rounds of technical negotiations, and there are a number of conditions with the Turkish Ministry of Energy talking about resuming the oil of the Kurdistan region and Kirkuk together through pipelines to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

Sobhi explained that the paper submitted by the Turkish side included 6 basic conditions, including the costs of transporting a barrel of oil in pipelines, which is estimated at $13 per barrel, in addition to withdrawing the invitation submitted to the International Arbitration Court, which included compensation from the Turkish side to Iraq from 2018 to 2020.

 

He added that these are basic conditions, and there are other conditions that include the dues of the Turkish oil company, which amount to 7 dollars per barrel, as well as their claim for the oil agreement between the region and Turkey, indicating that all these ideas will be put on the negotiating table between the Turkish and Iraqi sides in order to resume oil.

Sobhi believes that the conditions are positive, especially since there are great economic pressures on the Turkish government, especially with regard to the currency rate and the general economy, and these pressures allow it to make concessions in order to benefit from the passage of the agreed amount of oil.

For his part, the oil expert, Sabah Alo, said that this visit comes after a decline in the Turkish-Iraqi oil and commercial relations, after the International Tribunal's decision to condemn Turkey for exporting Kurdistan's oil, which led to its suspension for a period of time and caused great losses to Iraq and even Turkey.

He added that the negotiations between Turkey and Iraq in this file will give the possibility to settle any form of disputes and restore export operations, as the region produces between 550 to 600 thousand barrels per day and exports in the range of 400 to 450 thousand barrels per day.

He added that the Turkish Ceyhan line transports an estimated one million and 250 thousand barrels per day, so it constitutes a very important point for Iraqi revenues, and it is necessary to quickly settle the problems with Turkey in order for the benefit to prevail on both sides.  

Alou stated that the rise in oil prices to above $80 a barrel will affect the Turkish and Iraqi economies in terms of higher revenues, so an understanding between the Iraqi and Turkish oil ministries is necessary regarding the centrality of the issue of oil marketing in the (SOMO) company away from the measures that the regional government was taking in The issue of dealing with export operations, and this also requires understanding and zeroing out the problems between Baghdad and Erbil and working to settle this file under one central control, which gives the possibility in the settlement processes and the direction in the issue of developing the oil industry and increasing energy in the production and export process, which increases the revenue rates Iraq needs. .

While the economist, Dr. Qusai Safwan, stated that there were difficulties in selling oil after the international sanctions in fining the Turkish side an amount of one billion and 400 million dollars for its contribution to selling oil away from (SOMO) company.
He added that it is currently possible to negotiate on this issue, in addition to taking a set of reforms in order for there to be sustainability in the export process.

Edited by: Ali Mouafaq

[yota691]

Parliamentary Oil: Türkiye put forward 6 conditions for resuming oil exports from Iraq to Ceyhan

2023.08.27 - 09:28

 

Baghdad - people  

The Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee stated that the Turkish delegation, which visited Iraq recently, proposed six conditions for resuming the export of crude through the port of Ceyhan, while specialists called for speeding up the settlement of differences in this file.  

 

A member of the Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee, Sabah Sobhi, said in a statement to the official newspaper, followed by “Nass” on Sunday (August 27, 2023), that “the Turkish delegation’s visit to Iraq included a paper of basic conditions for negotiating the resumption of Iraqi oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, especially after the International Court’s decision to fine Turkey is one billion and 400 million dollars for its contribution to the sale of oil outside the company (SOMO).  

  

And he indicated that "the Turkish delegation had previously visited Iraq and conducted rounds of technical negotiations, and there are a number of conditions with the Turkish Ministry of Energy talking about resuming the oil of the Kurdistan region and Kirkuk together through pipelines to the Turkish port of Ceyhan."  

  

Sobhi explained, "The paper presented by the Turkish side included 6 basic conditions, including the costs of transporting a barrel of oil in pipelines, which is estimated at $13 per barrel, in addition to withdrawing the invitation submitted to the International Arbitration Court, which included compensation from the Turkish side to Iraq since 2018 to 2020".  

  

He added, "These are basic conditions, and there are other conditions that include the dues of the Turkish oil company, which amount to $7 per barrel, as well as their claim for the oil agreement between the region and Turkey, indicating that all these ideas will be put on the negotiating table between the Turkish and Iraqi sides in order to resume oil." .  

  

Sobhi believes that "the conditions are positive, especially since there are great economic pressures on the Turkish government, especially with regard to the currency rate and the general economy, and these pressures allow it to make concessions in order to benefit from the passage of the agreed amount of oil."

  

Iraq had won an arbitration case that it filed before the Arbitration Board of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris against Ankara regarding the export of crude oil from the Kurdistan region through the Turkish port of Ceyhan without referring to the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company "SOMO".  

 

As a result of the decision, the export of Kurdistan's oil, amounting to 480 thousand barrels per day, stopped on March 25, and the stopped flows represent only about 0.5% of the global oil supply, without resuming until today, as indicators of damage and financial losses amounted to more than one billion dollars per month.   

[yota691]

Revealing Türkiye's conditions for Iraq to resume the region's oil exports

• Time: 08/27/2023 09:30:46
•  
• Read: 3,965 times

  

{Economic: Al Furat News} The Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee revealed that the Turkish delegation, which visited Iraq recently, proposed six conditions for resuming the export of crude oil to the Kurdistan region through the port of Ceyhan.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held talks in Baghdad, to which he arrived last Tuesday on an official visit, during which he held a series of meetings with the three presidencies and political leaders. He also visited the Kurdistan region to discuss a number of important issues and issues between the two countries, while stressing that Iraq is a priority in Ankara's policy. external.

A member of the Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee, Sabah Sobhi, said in a press statement that the Turkish delegation's visit to Iraq included a paper of basic conditions for negotiating the resumption of Iraqi oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, especially after the International Court's decision to fine Turkey one billion and 400 million dollars for its contribution to selling oil outside the company ( sumo).

And he indicated that the Turkish delegation had previously visited Iraq and conducted rounds of technical negotiations, and there are a number of conditions with the Turkish Ministry of Energy talking about resuming the oil of the Kurdistan region and Kirkuk together through pipelines to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

Sobhi explained that the paper submitted by the Turkish side included 6 basic conditions, including the costs of transporting a barrel of oil in pipelines, which is estimated at $13 per barrel, in addition to withdrawing the invitation submitted to the International Arbitration Court, which included compensation from the Turkish side to Iraq from 2018 to 2020.

 

He added that these are basic conditions, and there are other conditions that include the dues of the Turkish oil company, which amount to 7 dollars per barrel, as well as their claim for the oil agreement between the region and Turkey, indicating that all these ideas will be put on the negotiating table between the Turkish and Iraqi sides in order to resume oil.

Sobhi believes that the conditions are positive, especially since there are great economic pressures on the Turkish government, especially with regard to the currency rate and the general economy, and these pressures allow it to make concessions in order to benefit from the passage of the agreed amount of oil.

[yota691]

An expert proposes to involve experts in the draft oil and gas law

economy |Yesterday, 20:41 |

    

 

 

Baghdad today - Baghdad

Today, Sunday (August 27, 2023), an expert in oil affairs, Hamza Al-Jawahiri, said that there is a need to involve experts in the oil field in preparing the draft oil and gas law, in addition to the participation of the authorities in the governments of Baghdad and Erbil.

 

Al-Jawahiri told "Baghdad Today" that "the legislation of laws in Iraq is subject to political agreements, which lead to the enactment of any law or not, but the preparation of draft laws must be from the competent authorities and personalities, so that there are no loopholes in the matter." any part of the law.

 

He explained, "The involvement of experts and specialists in the field of oil in preparing a draft oil and gas law is applicable in many countries and is a health condition, and therefore the competent government agencies in the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government can also participate in preparing the draft."

 

The oil sector in the Kurdistan region entered a "dark tunnel", since oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan were stopped by an international judicial decision from the Paris Court, in addition to the continuing dispute between Iraq and Turkey regarding the mechanism for restoring oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, in addition to the Baghdad agreement. The new Erbil, which made the Kurdish oil sector not isolated from the control of the federal government in Baghdad.

 

While the political forces stress the need to legislate the oil and gas law, reliance is being placed on resolving all the problems between Baghdad and Erbil and drawing the form of the relationship and the clear mechanisms for controlling the oil of the Kurdistan region and the specific powers of the regional government and the Baghdad government. It obstructs the enactment of the law and reaching an agreed formula.

[yota691]

Appointing an American general with an oil mission in the Kurdistan region

policy |Yesterday, 23:44 |

    

 

 

Baghdad Today - translation

Today, Sunday (August 27, 2023), the Petroleum Industries Association in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced the appointment of a former colonel in the US Army as its official spokesperson in Iraq. 

 

The union includes a number of local and foreign companies working in the field of oil.

A union statement, translated by "Baghdad Today", stated that "Colonel Miles Caggins today assumed the position of official spokesman for the federation and the task of representing it," noting that "his duties include dealing with the oil export crisis that the region suffers from as a result of the Turkish authorities' refusal to re-pump it through the Turkish port of Ceyhan." 

 

Caggins had held the position of official spokesman for the international coalition forces against the terrorist organization ISIS, where the union statement confirmed that he has "extensive capabilities and great interest in developing the work environment within the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and it came from his service for 26 years in the army, which included a large part of it working to On the side of the Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga," according to his description. 

 

It is noteworthy that the Federation of Petroleum Industries in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was formed early this year with the participation of several local and foreign companies active within the region, including DNO, Gulf Keystone, HKN Energy, and Shamran Petroleum.

[T B]

oh no! lord help us! another biden cohorts appointed im sure !

[yota691]

Türkiye enters the line of the Kurdistan oil export crisis and leads the "settlement" mediation

2023-08-28 07:58

 

Shafaq News/ The British "OilPrice" website, which specializes in energy news, reported on Monday that Turkey is trying to reach a settlement between Erbil and Baghdad, to share the oil revenues that can be exported from the Kurdistan Region.

 

The federal government stopped crude oil exports in Kurdistan on March 25, after a court ruling from the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris decided in favor of Iraq against Turkey in a dispute over crude flows from the region.

 

The British website, in a report translated by Shafaq News Agency, quoted the American "Bloomberg" website, that "Turkish officials consider that the possible deal may help resume the operation of the pipeline that transports crude oil from Kurdistan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan."

 

The report indicated that "Iraq considers that Turkey has no right to allow Kurdish oil exports through the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline and the Turkish port of Ceyhan without the approval of the federal government in Baghdad, and according to a court decision, Turkey must pay compensation to Iraq in the amount of $1.5 billion. ".

 

The report stated that "the cessation of oil flows from northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Region through Ceyhan forced companies to reduce or suspend production due to the limited capacity available in storage tanks," noting that this led to a rise in oil prices for a period of time.

 

The report pointed out that "Iraq, which is the second largest producer in the "OPEC" organization after Saudi Arabia, does not currently export oil except through the southern oil export terminals.

 

He added, "An estimated amount of 450,000 barrels of daily exports from the northern fields and from Kurdistan is still suspended due to the dispute over who has the right to allow Kurdish exports." "Since that time, attempts have continued to reach a final agreement and reactivate the pipeline, but they have not achieved any specific results," the report added. "Turkey considers that the crisis is an internal Iraqi matter that Baghdad and Erbil must settle."

[yota691]

In numbers... Iraq's profits from stopping oil exports through Türkiye

money and business
   

Economy News-Baghdad
With complex calculations, the economist, Nabil Al-Marsoumi, detailed, on Monday, Iraq's profits from the cessation of oil exports through Turkey.

 

Al-Marsawi said in a post on his account on the Facebook platform, which was seen by "Al-Iqtisad News", that "the amount of the compulsory and optional reduction currently for Iraq within OPEC Plus = 430 thousand barrels per day."

 

Iraq's production share is currently = 4.220 thousand barrels per day

 

Domestic consumption of crude oil = 720 thousand barrels per day

 

The planned export capacity in the 2023 budget = 3.5 million barrels per day

 

Iraq's exports in July 2023 = 3.440 million barrels per day

 

The difference between actual exports and export capacity = 56 thousand barrels per day

 

The average price of Iraqi oil sold in July 2023 = $78 per barrel

 

Al-Marsoumi indicated that "the direct financial loss incurred by Iraq in July 2023 due to the difference between export capacity and actual exports = 136 million dollars."

Kurdistan's oil exports = 400,000 barrels per day.

 

And he indicated that "the difference between the price of Iraqi oil and the price of Kurdistan's oil, according to the accounts of Deloitte, which is charged with auditing Kurdistan's oil exports, = $8 per barrel (because of the quality of Kurdistan's oil, being one of the heavy, acidic oils and export restrictions)," stressing that "the resumption of exporting Kurdistan's oil will lead to a reduction in exports." Iraqi oil south by sea by 400,000 barrels per day.

 

He stated that the loss of Iraq as a result of the resumption of oil exports from Kurdistan due to the price difference = 99 million dollars per month

 

Traffic and transportation fees = 87 million dollars per month

Al-Marsoumi continued, "The net financial loss incurred by Iraq from re-exporting

 

Kurdistan's oil = (99 + 87) - 136 = 50 million dollars per month, and this loss will increase when we calculate the value of the discounts granted by Kurdistan for its oil sales to Turkey, and this means that Iraq is currently profiting from At least $ 50 million per month due to the suspension of Kurdistan's exports in light of the current circumstances that oblige Iraq to reduce its oil production in compliance with the decisions of OPEC Plus.

 

Turkey's decision to suspend exports followed an arbitration decision by the International Chamber of Commerce that ordered Turkey to pay Baghdad $1.5 billion in compensation for damages caused by the Kurdistan Regional Government's export of oil without permission from the government in Baghdad between 2014 and 2018.

 

Attempts to restart the pipeline were delayed by last month's Turkish presidential election and discussions between the Iraqi government's Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) and the KRG over an export deal that has now been reached.

Sources told Reuters earlier that among the issues to be resolved is that Turkey seeks to negotiate the amount of compensation ordered by the International Chamber of Commerce.

 

The sources said they also want to permanently resolve outstanding issues in other open arbitration cases before they agree to resume flows.

 

And the Kurdistan region suffers from a lack of liquidity due to the interruption of the pipeline, and Iraqi politicians and Kurdish lawmakers said that the region had no other choice but to approve the budget, from which it would receive 12.67 percent of the total 198.9 trillion dinars ($ 153 billion).

 

The loss in KRG revenue due to the 80-day oil shutdown is more than $2 billion, according to Reuters calculations based on exports of 375,000 barrels per day, plus the KRG's historical discount to the price of Brent crude.

 

The pipeline was also exporting about 75,000 barrels per day of federal crude.

 

 

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Views 86

Added 08/28/2023 - 11:56 AM

[yota691]

Turkish mediation between Baghdad and Erbil to share the region's oil imports and resume exports

 

August 28, 2023

Baghdad / Obelisk Al-Hadath: The British “Oil Price” website revealed, on Monday, a Turkish-led settlement between Erbil and Baghdad, to share the oil revenues exported from the Kurdistan Region.

 

And crude oil exports to Kurdistan stopped on March 25, after a court ruling from the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris decided in favor of Iraq against Turkey in a dispute over crude flows from the region.

 

The expected settlement will help in resuming the operation of the pipeline that transports crude oil from Kurdistan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

 

And an official in the Ministry of Finance in the Kurdistan region of Iraq said that “the region incurred a loss estimated at about $850 million,” one month after stopping its oil exports, amid official fears that it would go bankrupt.

 

The suspension decision, which the federal government won as a result of a lawsuit before the International Court of Arbitration, reflected negatively on the region's economic conditions.

 

And the region in which the economy depends heavily on oil exports, the cessation of exports may lead to a sharp decline in economic growth and an increase in unemployment rates.

 

The longer the period of suspension of exports, the greater its impact on the exporting economy, as it may lead to exacerbation of financial problems and increase the chances of bankruptcy.

 

And the cessation of oil exports could lead to a sharp deterioration in the financial situation of the region, and increase the chances of bankruptcy.

 

Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani and the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, agreed earlier this month to resume oil exports, and stressed that the direct technical authorities would immediately implement the agreement with Erbil.

 

Last month, Iraqi government circles talked about 4 basic items included in the agreement between the federal government and the Kurdistan region. The first included the export of 400,000 barrels of oil per day from Kurdistan through the National Oil Company “SOMO” and naming a representative of the region in the company, and this happened for the first time after years. From long disputes between the two sides, it was also agreed that a Kurdish official would occupy the position of assistant to the head of the company (SOMO). However, the aforementioned agreements did not appear to be implemented yet.

[6ly410]

U.S. Oil: Oil is an important issue for us. The U.S. consulate in the Kurdistan Region met with the Minister of Natural Resources، saying that the kurdistan region's oil issue was an important issue for the country and hoped that the oil and gas law would be prepared and approved in partnership between the governments of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

[gregp]

I wish Iraq would give the US the boot. 

[yota691]

A Kurdish leader explains the reasons for postponing the visit of the Kurdistan delegation to Baghdad

Yesterday, 20:15

 

Tomorrow Press / Special

Today, Monday, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Wafaa Muhammad, revealed the reasons for postponing the visit of the Kurdistan Region delegation to Baghdad .

 

Muhammad said, in an interview with Al-Ghad Press, that "a high-ranking Kurdish delegation was supposed to visit the capital, Baghdad, during the past week, but the unfortunate accident that befell Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani, with the death of his sister and daughter, prevented that. "

 

He added that "the two parties to the talks have not yet determined the date for the next visit," noting that "the talks did not stop during the last period through the Kurdish leaders in the federal government represented by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Shakhwan Abdullah and Minister of Construction and Housing Bankin Rikani. "

 

It is noteworthy that, despite the meetings and discussions between the governments of Baghdad and Erbil, differences are still continuing regarding the outstanding files, most notably the draft oil and gas law and the fate of the disputed areas and other files .

 

[yota691]

In light of the export suspension

An oil company in Kurdistan is considering writing off more jobs

2023.08.31 - 14:28

 

Baghdad - people  

Gulf Keystone Petroleum, Thursday, raised doubts about the continuity of its activity after it announced that it had cut expatriate jobs by 55 percent to cut costs in light of the suspension of crude oil exports from Kurdistan.  

 

The company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and focuses its operations in Kurdistan, said it is studying the possibility of writing off more jobs after the blow to its business following the stoppage of pumping through the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline in March.  

  

"Although no official time frame has been announced, we still believe that the suspension of exports will be temporary and that the KRG will resume payments for oil sales in a timely manner," John Harris, the company's chief executive, said in a statement.  

  

Last week, the Turkish foreign and energy ministers met the head of the Iraqi Kurdistan government for talks on issues including oil exports, but none of the officials announced an agreement to resume pumping exports through Turkey.  

  

Türkiye stopped oil flows in March after losing an arbitration case brought by Iraq. Baghdad considers oil exports from Kurdistan through the Turkish port of Ceyhan illegal.  

  

"Sky News Arabia"  

[yota691]

Parliamentary oil: Türkiye is using the policy of pressure on Baghdad to achieve its goals

Iraq

10:31 - 2023-09-03

 

A member of the Parliamentary Oil and Natural Resources Committee, Kazem Al-Touki, confirmed, on Sunday, that the Turkish side has used the policy of pressure on Baghdad in order to push it towards achieving its goals, including pushing Iraq to confront the opposition parties to Ankara in the north of the country. 

Al-Touki said in a press interview, "Turkey is practicing an unfair policy towards Iraq in terms of its continuation of military operations and bombing on Iraqi lands, as well as cutting off water and drying up rivers without justification." 

 

And he indicated that "stopping the export of oil towards Turkish lands and the port of Ceyhan prompted the Iraqi government to search for other alternatives to extract this oil," and Al-Toki indicated that "quantities of Iraqi oil were directed to Jordan, and the rest of it goes to internal refineries."

[horsesoldier]

... recent news 📰 about the oil & gas law postponed indefinitely owing " glaring omissions & sensitive issues "( even though some time ago articles stated everyone was in agreement ), respect for their rights will be the least of their worries.

Once again criminal politicians demanding respect is always good for Laughs.

[CSM (R) Thack]

10 hours ago, horsesoldier said:

... recent news 📰 about the oil & gas law postponed indefinitely owing " glaring omissions & sensitive issues "( even though some time ago articles stated everyone was in agreement ), respect for their rights will be the least of their worries.

Once again criminal politicians demanding respect is always good for Laughs.

Is anyone really surprised!?!?!🤦🏻