JWing
02-11-2011, 08:47 AM
ARBIL, Feb 10, 2011 (AFP) - Iraqi Kurdistan has exported 75,000 barrels of oil since the start of this month, the region's premier said on Thursday, days after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced Baghdad would honour contracts signed by the autonomous region."Seventy-five thousand barrels of oil have been exported from the wells of Kurdistan, which started experimentally at the beginning of this month," Barham Saleh said, adding the figure was for total exports measured until Wednesday.
The autonomous Kurdistan region halted exports in October 2009 after a dispute with the central government over payments.
Baghdad and authorities in Kurdistan had argued over payments, revenue sharing and the central government's refusal to recognise Kurdish oil contracts with foreign firms.
But on Saturday, Maliki told AFP in an interview that Baghdad would respect contracts signed by Kurdistan with foreign oil firms to operate the Tawke and Taq Taq fields, run by Norway's DNO and Turkey's Genel Enerji respectively.
Oil revenues account for 90 percent of Iraq's government income.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidANA20110210T160540ZRBF15/Iraqi%20Kurds%20export%2075,000%20barrels%20of%20o il:%20Saleh
The autonomous Kurdistan region halted exports in October 2009 after a dispute with the central government over payments.
Baghdad and authorities in Kurdistan had argued over payments, revenue sharing and the central government's refusal to recognise Kurdish oil contracts with foreign firms.
But on Saturday, Maliki told AFP in an interview that Baghdad would respect contracts signed by Kurdistan with foreign oil firms to operate the Tawke and Taq Taq fields, run by Norway's DNO and Turkey's Genel Enerji respectively.
Oil revenues account for 90 percent of Iraq's government income.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidANA20110210T160540ZRBF15/Iraqi%20Kurds%20export%2075,000%20barrels%20of%20o il:%20Saleh