Iraq's federal government and its semi-autonomous Kurdistan region reached an agreement on allocation of oil production volumes, paving the way toward the restart of northern Iraqi crude exports through Turkey's Ceyhan port
The terms of the agreement, which Iraq's government approved on Thursday, will require the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to immediately begin delivering at least 230,000 b/d of oil to Iraqi state marketer Somo for exports. In exchange, Baghdad will pay $16/bl — in cash or in kind — under the amended budget law, "as an advance to the Kurdish government," Iraq's government said. The delivered volumes are expected to increase at a later stage.
The federal government said it will transfer the salaries of KRG public servants for the month of May, "after the federal ministry of oil or Somo confirms receipt of the full oil quantity — currently 230,000 b/d — at the Ceyhan port".
The $16/bl figure referenced in the agreement reflects what the amended budget law stipulates foreign oil companies operating in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region are to be paid for production and transportation costs.
Baghdad also explicitly acknowledged KRG's estimate of the total oil production in the region, at 280,000 b/d. As part of the deal, 50,000 b/d will be allocated for the Kurdistan region's domestic use, with the KRG covering the associated costs of production and transfer. Net revenues from those volumes will be transferred to the federal treasury.
A source within the international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Kurdistan told Argus that the firms are concerned about being compensated for the 50,000 b/d allocated for local consumption.
"IOCs still need a clear plan for how they will receive payment for the $1bn in arrears," the source said, adding, "the KRG and the federal government need to swiftly agree on the scope of work for the independent consultant."
The budget law amendment passed in January stipulates that an international consulting firm is to be tasked with auditing the costs of production and transportation in the Kurdistan region. Baghdad and Erbil have yet to agree on the firm or its scope of work. The IOCs refuse to share with Iraq's oil ministry the existing contracts they have signed with the KRG.
Meanwhile, the deal also suggests that Baghdad may supply Erbil with up to 15,000 b/d of refined products, if needed, based on a joint committee's assessment of the Kurdish region's needs. The assessment is due within two weeks.
The KRG is also expected to transfer an estimated 120 billion Iraqi dinars ($92mn) in non-oil revenues for May to the federal Ministry of Finance.
The Iraq-KRG deal is a "milestone toward the resumption of oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline," said the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan, an industry group representing foreign oil companies operating in Iraqi Kurdistan. The group said its members "anticipate additional discussions with [federal government] and KRG officials to establish written agreements prior to resuming exports."
Negotiations between Baghdad and Erbil reached a conclusion just as drone attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan led foreign oil companies operating in the region to shut in more than 200,000 b/d of production as of Wednesday.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. In the first public accusation voiced by a senior Kurdish official, former Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari on Wednesday blamed the attacks on Wilaya-aligned factions — a group of Iran-backed militias.
