US Consul General Discusses Energy Cooperation with Kurdistan Regional Government
The newly appointed US Consul General, Mark Stroh, held discussions on Monday with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Natural Resources regarding the expansion of cooperation in the energy sector. During his visit to Erbil, Stroh met with the acting Minister of Natural Resources, Kamal Mohammed, with a particular focus on energy collaboration, especially in the field of renewables.
The US Consulate General in Erbil released a statement highlighting the agenda of the meeting, stating, "We discussed areas to expand cooperation on energy, particularly renewables, in support of a resilient Kurdistan Region in Iraq."
A good conversation with Minister of Electricity / Acting Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Mohammad Salih Khalil. We discussed areas to expand cooperation on energy, particularly renewables, in support of a resilient #Kurdistan_Region in #Iraq. An honor to meet you, Minister! pic.twitter.com/9TfhwL8Eh4
— U.S. Consulate General Erbil (@USCGERBIL) August 28, 2023
These discussions come in the wake of the interruption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through Turkey's Ceyhan port at the request of Baghdad. The United States has been urging both Baghdad and Ankara to resume these exports, but negotiations have thus far failed to yield a resolution.
On April 4, 2023, Erbil and Baghdad reached an agreement that would enable the marketing of Kurdish oil through Iraq's state-owned SOMO (State Oil Marketing Organization).
Notably, American companies have a substantial presence in the Kurdistan Region's energy sector, particularly within the oil and gas industries. One significant example is the US-backed financing of $250 million in September 2021 for the expansion of the Khor Mor gas plant, located in the Kurdistan Region's Chamchamal district.
HKN Energy Ltd., a US-based company, has played a pivotal role in the region's energy landscape with its oil exploration and production operations. The company currently operates seven wells across three production facilities situated in two separate fields.
As discussions and negotiations regarding energy cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and the United States continue, there is a growing emphasis on the development of renewable energy sources to support the Kurdistan Region's resilience and energy sustainability.
The outcome of these discussions and potential agreements could significantly impact the future of energy cooperation and trade in the region, further solidifying the ties between the Kurdistan Region and the United States in the realm of energy production and distribution.
