Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and his Kurdish counterpart Masrour Barzani in Baghdad
Letter from Iraq: Kurdistan gas key to growth
Federal-backed but independent Kurdistan-focused national energy company could underpin better cooperation
The differences between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government of Iraq with respect to managing energy resources in the Kurdistan region are shrinking but continue to persist. Hope springs eternal, and there is a vision that could enable reconciliation that works for all. Gas reserves in the north of the country and within the Sulaymaniyah Governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) are estimated at 20–40tcf (0.57–1.13tcm), with the rest of the country estimated to hold 3.74tcm. Developed in a constructive and practical way, the northern fields can significantly help satisfy Iraq’s domestic energy demand. The historical underinvestment and insufficient infra
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
9 December 2025
The group’s oil production declined in November, our latest analysis finds, amid divided sentiment over market balances and geopolitical jitters
