Iraq sees deal within days on Kurdistan oil dispute

Iraq’s government expects a prompt resolution of its long-running dispute over oil exports with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, according to the country’s oil minister.

Abdul Kareem Luaibi said on Wednesday he expected a deal to be reached within a few days, Reuters reported.

"The task of this delegation is to secure agreement between the two sides, and I believe they will secure this agreement," he said. "The parliamentary council will hold talks on this subject within hours, and even if there is no agreement today, I expect an agreement within a couple of days."

Luaibi, speaking at an oil and gas conference in Ankara, also said he expected oil flow in the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to resume within one week after it was halted at the beginning of March.

Iraq wants to increase oil flow through the pipeline to Turkey to more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd), double the previous levels, the minister said.

He also said Iraq wants to build an additional pipeline between the two countries and that he would discuss these issues with Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

“I believe the daily oil flow will exceed one million barrels a day when that line is completed. I hope it happens this year,” he said. “We are building a pipeline in Iraq.”

(With Reuters)