Russia aids Kurdistan gas boost
Strategic investments from Rosneft have unclogged Kurdistan's messy export scene, paving the way for supplies to Turkey in the early 2020s
Natural gas prospects for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq look better than they have for several years. Production is up, a new gas pipeline to Turkey is planned and the region's energy ministry claims it will start gas exports in 2020. The latter is the latest bold promise typical of KRI oil minister Ashti Hawrami, who has admittedly done a reasonable job of licking the KRI's independent oil sector into shape. But it is probably unrealistic, given it does not accord with development plans from the region's gas companies. Their main focus is connecting the KRI's main power plants to gas in a process expected to take the next three years to complete. But the KRI now looks set to become self-suff
Also in this section
23 January 2026
A strategic pivot away from Russian crude in recent weeks tees up the possibility of improved US-India trade relations
23 January 2026
The signing of a deal with a TotalEnergies-led consortium to explore for gas in a block adjoining Israel’s maritime area may breathe new life into the country’s gas ambitions
22 January 2026
As Saudi Arabia pushes mining as a new pillar of its economy, Saudi Aramco is positioning itself at the intersection of hydrocarbons, minerals and industrial policy
22 January 2026
New long-term deal is latest addition to country’s rapidly evolving supply portfolio as it eyes role as regional gas hub
