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Iraq, oil firms trade blame over shut Turkey pipeline

Foreign oil companies operating in Iraq's Kurdistan area are partially to blame for the hold-up in resuming unrefined exports after failing to send agreements for modification, Iraq's oil ministry stated.

When managed about, the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline (ITP) which 0.5% of worldwide oil supply has been halted, stuck in legal and monetary limbo, given that March 2023.

The flows were halted after the Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce in a longstanding arbitration case ruled Ankara had actually breached arrangements of a 1973 treaty by helping with such exports without the consent of the Iraqi federal government.

Iraq's oil ministry in a statement released late on Sunday kept in mind that foreign business, alongside the Iraqi Kurdish authorities, have still not submitted contracts for revision to the ministry.

The federal government is looking for to revise such deals after a court ruled ones signed with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). were invalid, it stated in response to a statement on Saturday by. the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (APIKUR).

Iraq's federal court in 2022 deemed an oil and gas law. controling the Kurdistan area's oil and gas industry as. unconstitutional.

Iraq owes Turkey minimum payments as long as the pipeline is. technically operational - approximated by consultancy Wood. Mackenzie at around $25 million each month. APIKUR has actually mentioned a. comparable figure saying it comprehends Iraq owes $800,000 in everyday. penalties.

APIKUR said the government of Iraq had not taken the. needed actions to resume ITP, adding that there has actually been no. real progress to resume ITP in spite of conferences in Baghdad in. January between agents of the Iraqi government, the KRG. and international oil companies.

APIKUR said its member companies' present commercial terms. and economic design needs to be maintained and required payment. guarantees for previous and future oil exports.

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is because of meet. U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on April 15 to go over. the future of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, as well as Iraqi. financial reforms and a U.S. push to wean Iraq - an unusual ally of. both Washington and Tehran - off Iranian power and gas.

APIKUR said it had communicated to members of Biden's. administration and Congress that the White House must not. proceed with the prepared visit unless flows through ITP resume,. worldwide oil firms get payment guarantees and the Iraqi. government completely implements the Iraqi federal budget plan for the. KRG.

U.S. ENCOURAGES REBOOT

Responding to a request for comment, a U.S. State. Department representative stated the U.S. federal government encourages all. celebrations to reach a contract to resume the flow of oil through. the Iraq-Turkey pipeline as soon as possible.

Restarting oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline. would be helpful for all celebrations, the spokesperson said.

Reports from OPEC and worldwide secondary sources showed. that crude production in the Kurdistan area was roughly. 200,000-225,000 barrels per day (bpd) without its knowledge or. approval, the ministry stated.

Iraq said in March it would minimize its crude exports to 3.3. million barrels a day in the coming months to make up for. having exceeded its OPEC+ quota because January, a promise that. would cut shipments by 130,000 bpd from last month.

The OPEC+ grouping of oil-producing nations has actually highlighted. the importance of compliance even as oil prices have actually rallied. this year.

The lack of compliance with the oil policy authorized by the. federal government risks Iraq's track record and endangers its. worldwide dedications, the ministry stated.

(source: Reuters)