Iraq, Turkey and Kurdish Region agree one‑year oil export protocol

Iraq, Turkey and the Kurdish Regional Government signed a temporary one‑year protocol to keep Iraqi crude flowing through the pipeline that runs from the Kurdistan Region to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The agreement, concluded after two days of high‑level talks in Ankara, aims to bridge the gap created by the expiry of the existing long‑term deal at the end of the month.

More than 200,000 barrels of Iraqi crude are currently transported daily via the Kurdish pipeline to Ceyhan. Officials said the protocol will allow continued export while the parties negotiate a new comprehensive energy agreement. Dr. Hazal Hostani, General Director of Contracts at the Kurdistan Ministry of Natural Resources, stated the goal is “to bridge the gap that will arise from the expiration of the existing agreement and guarantee uninterrupted supply while final negotiations for a new strategic contract continue.”

The arrangement is seen as critical for Iraq’s oil revenue, the economic stability of the Kurdistan Region, and Turkey’s role as a key energy hub.