The curious case of Kurdish gas
The KRG is seeking to increase gas flows and reduce flaring, but its strategy has raised a few eyebrows
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is moving to exert greater control over its oil and gas industry under Minister of Natural Resources Kamal Atroshi, who was sworn into office in January. Operators may not, though, see the greater engagement as unconditionally positive. IOCs active in Kurdistan had been sitting relatively pretty—14 months of consecutive timely payments coincided with the December announcement by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) of a plan to pay off several months’ worth of debts. Under the MNR’s framework, firms received an additional $0.50/bl produced for each dollar over $50/bl in the realised price of crude, allowing them to slowly make good the arrears, say
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent






