Kurdistan Oil Resumes Exports, Flows Back to Global Markets

ARK News.. Kurdistan’s oil exports officially resumed on Saturday, September 27, 2025, marking the region’s re-connection to global energy markets after more than two years of suspension.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani hailed the deal as “the fruit of tireless efforts by teams and delegations from all sides,” stressing that the agreement “restores Kurdistan’s link to international oil markets.”

The tripartite oil agreement — between the Iraqi federal government, the KRG, and international oil companies — is seen as a strategic shift for Iraq’s energy sector, laying the foundation for a new era of transparent and regulated relations between Baghdad and Erbil.

The deal follows years of political and legal disputes, most notably the 2023 ruling by the Paris-based International Arbitration Court that obliged Turkey to halt oil imports from the region without Baghdad’s approval, leading to the suspension of the Ceyhan pipeline.

After more than 30 months of halted exports, flows through Turkey’s Ceyhan port have resumed at 190,000 barrels per day, with 50,000 barrels allocated for local consumption in the Kurdistan Region.

Under the agreement, $16 per barrel — covering production and transport costs — will be allocated to international oil companies, with the possibility of future adjustments based on reports from the international advisor overseeing the deal

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