the Kurdistan region of Iraq’s growing assertiveness for oil exports has seen it make significant inroads into the international market.

Iraq’s NOC working with KAR on Kurdistan oil

KIRKUK, October 26, 2017 – Iraq’s state-owned North Oil Company is co-operating with Kurdish firm KAR Group on resuming production at two major oilfields in the Kirkuk province, international media reported on Wednesday.

The two companies are collaborating to restart the 275,000-bopd production at the Bai Hassan and Avana fields that was halted as Iraqi armed forces moved to retake the area, sources told Bloomberg.

North Oil Company operated the fields with a 100% stake until July 2014, when in the battle with Islamic State, Kurdish Peshmerga forces gained control of the area. At that point, KAR Group took over operatorship on behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government and managed to bring production back to pre-2014 levels.

Wednesday’s move may be a positive sign of stability returning to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the disputed Kirkuk area. It follows a statement the same day from the regional government saying it would suspend its moves towards independence and seek dialogue with Baghdad.

In another positive sign on Wednesday, Iran reopened one of its three border crossings with the Kurdistan Region.

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