The Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR), which represents most of the international oil companies (IOCs) in the Kurdistan Region, on Sunday said that no agreement has been reached despite a meeting on April 20 between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Read More: Oil Companies in Kurdistan Ready for Exports: APIKUR
“Unfortunately, the meeting did not result in any agreements,” APIKUR stated in a press release.
“APIKUR member companies remain ready to immediately resume exports through the Iraq-Turkiye Pipeline (ITP) once binding agreements are in place that ensure payment certainty for such exports in line with each IOC’s existing contractual terms, and that resolve all outstanding payment arrears,” APIKUR said.
Press Release: @apikur_oil calls for redoubling of efforts to reach the agreements required to resume oil exports via Iraq-Türkiye pipeline.
— APIKUR (@apikur_oil) April 27, 2025
The Govt of Iraq continues to publicly express the importance of oil exports through the ITP but engagements thus far have been limited… pic.twitter.com/Q4usqSWBeh
“APIKUR acknowledges the Governments’ need to ensure consistency with Iraq’s Budget Law. We also note that the KRG’s contracts with IOCs have been deemed legal and valid by Iraq’s courts; therefore, any payment arrangements, including the scope of work for an international consultant, must satisfy both Iraq’s Budget Law and the IOCs’ existing contracts.”
Read More: Baghdad Must Honor Contracts Before Exports Resume: APIKUR
APIKUR also said the IOCs’ proposed recommendations to Baghdad included a scope of work for the international consultant that met the test of consistency with both Iraq’s budget law and IOC contracts. However, this has not yet been accepted.
“On APIKUR proposals for payment surety for future exports, the Governments have indicated willingness to consider options. Notwithstanding, no substantive discussion of arrangements required to ensure payment has taken place. And no progress has been made on the issue of IOC payment arrears.
“APIKUR member companies have repeatedly proposed solutions that satisfy Iraq’s Budget Law and comply with IOC contracts that have been validated in Iraq’s courts,” said Myles B. Caggins III, spokesman for APIKUR. “We regret the lack of progress; nevertheless, we will continue to push for a resumption of oil exports through the ITP.”
On March 25, 2023, Kurdish crude oil exports through Turkiye were stopped after an international arbitration court ruled in favor of Baghdad against Ankara, halting 450,000 barrels per day of crude oil exports to international markets.
On February 2, the Iraqi parliament voted for an amendment to the Iraqi federal budget law stipulating the cost of extracting and transporting the Kurdistan Region’s oil, paving the legal way to resume Kurdish oil exports. But so far, no agreement has been reached between Baghdad and the KRG to resume the oil exports due to disagreements on the payment of IOCs.
