Peregraf
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Secretary Amanj Rahim announced on Facebook that oil from the Kurdistan Region is scheduled to reach the global market through the KRG-Ceyhan pipeline starting Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 6:00 AM, following a historic agreement with Baghdad.
Rahim, who was part of the KRG negotiating delegation, emphasized that the tripartite deal between the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, and oil-producing companies will ensure stable payments of salaries and entitlements for the Region’s public sector employees.
“This agreement will end the misery and waiting for salaried employees to receive their entitlements, which should have been free from these conflicts,” Rahim wrote, highlighting the deal’s significance for both economic stability and social welfare.
The agreement, comprising six main articles and a preamble, clearly defines the rights, entitlements, and obligations of all three parties. Under the framework, all crude oil produced in the Kurdistan Region—except volumes allocated for local consumption—will be delivered to the Iraq National Oil Company (SOMO) for export via Turkey. Revenues will be returned to the federal treasury in Baghdad, then allocated to fund salaries and other entitlements in the Kurdistan Region.
The KRG welcomed the “historic agreement” announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Thursday regarding crude oil exports. KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), described the deal as “the result of tireless efforts by teams and delegations from all parties,” including the Kurdistan Region, oil-producing companies, the Federal Ministry of Oil, and SOMO.
“With this step, the Kurdistan Region reconnects to global oil markets,” Barzani wrote. “On this historic day, a major obstacle to securing the financial dues of the people of Kurdistan was removed. With the resumption of oil exports, we emphasize the need to fulfill all constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region.”
The KRG’s Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed that exports will resume within 48 hours, following the trilateral agreement with the federal Ministry of Oil and international oil companies operating in the Region. A meeting to oversee operations is scheduled for 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Prime Minister Sudani described the agreement as “an achievement 18 years in the making,” ensuring fair wealth distribution, diversification of export outlets, and encouragement of investment. The deal ends more than two years of deadlock, which began in March 2023 after an international arbitration ruling in Paris sided with Baghdad in its dispute with Ankara over pipeline operations.
The Iraqi Federal Ministry of Oil confirmed that exports will comply with Iraq’s constitution, the Federal General Budget Law, and decisions of the Federal Court, while underlining transparency in revenue management. Officials said the agreement would strengthen public finances, increase budget revenues, and improve the government’s capacity to fund services and development projects nationwide.
Analysts say the historic tripartite deal is a major step toward stabilizing Baghdad-Erbil relations, resolving long-standing disputes over oil revenue, and reinforcing Iraq’s role in global energy markets. It also ensures Turkey, as the key transit partner, maintains uninterrupted pipeline operations.
The first shipments under the new agreement are expected to reach global markets on Saturday, September 27, 2025, marking a symbolic victory for the Kurdistan Region in securing its constitutional and financial rights and ending years of uncertainty over oil revenue and public sector payments.