Masrour Barzani to Visit Baghdad for Talks on Electricity, Oil Exports, Drone Attacks, and Salary Disputes
Peregraf- Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), is expected to visit Baghdad next week for high-level talks with Ali al-Zaidi, the Iraqi Prime Minister, focused on electricity reform, oil exports, drone attacks, and ongoing financial disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.
Runaki Electricity Project to Be Presented
According to Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the KRG plans to present its experience with the Runaki ("Lighting") electricity project to the new Iraqi federal government.
"We will offer the KRG's unique experience with the 24-hour Runaki programme to the new federal government, including technical assistance and access to our technology to accelerate Prime Minister al-Zaidi's ambitions for electricity sector reform," Ahmad said.
Launched in October 2024, the Runaki project now claims to provide uninterrupted 24-hour electricity to nearly 5.5 million residents — more than 85 percent of the Kurdistan Region's population — according to project officials.
The initiative aims to eliminate reliance on private diesel generators and expand round-the-clock electricity coverage across the Kurdistan Region by the end of 2026.
Oil Exports and Drone Attacks
Ahmad said Masrour Barzani will also seek follow-up on security guarantees intended to allow international oil and gas companies operating in the Kurdistan Region to resume production and exports.
"Companies cannot be expected to resume operations amid the threat of drones in the skies," Ahmad said.
The remarks follow a series of drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure and oil-related sites in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
According to the KRG official, restoring operations could potentially raise Iraq's oil export capacity by more than 500,000 barrels per day.
Electricity Crisis and Baghdad Reforms
The planned visit also coincides with renewed efforts by the Iraqi federal government to address chronic electricity shortages ahead of the summer season.
On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited Iraq's Ministry of Electricity in Baghdad and chaired a meeting on plans to stabilize the national power grid during peak summer demand.
Al-Zaidi described the energy sector as a key pillar of his government's reform agenda and instructed ministry officials to increase electricity supply hours and reduce outages.
He said the government seeks a "lasting solution" to Iraq's electricity crisis and aims to move the country beyond recurring power cuts.
Salary Disputes Expected in Talks
The Erbil-Baghdad discussions are also expected to address disputes over Kurdistan Region salaries, oil revenues, and implementation of financial agreements between the KRG and the Iraqi federal government.
Tensions over salary payments have intensified after Baghdad signaled that Kurdistan Region employees and retirees may not receive their May salaries before Eid, due to disagreements over required procedures and revenue transfers.