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