Amid continued delays in approving Iraq’s federal budget, the Kurdistan Region has secured a temporary extension of its oil export agreement with Baghdad. At the same time, authorities report major progress in expanding twenty-four-hour electricity coverage across the Region.
Kamal Mohammed Saleh, Acting Minister of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government, provided updates on oil exports and electricity supply.
Saleh confirmed that Kurdistan extended its oil export agreement until March 31, 2026. The extension follows the absence of a newly approved Iraqi federal budget. The deal operates under the federal budget laws for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
“The agreement remains valid and has not been canceled,” Saleh said. He stressed that oil exports will continue without interruption. However, he noted that the long-term future of the agreement depends on the formation of a new federal government and the passage of a new budget law.
According to Saleh, daily oil production in the Kurdistan Region currently ranges between 200,000 and 250,000 barrels. Around 50,000 barrels serve domestic needs. The remaining volumes are exported through Iraq’s State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO). This process continues under the Kurdistan oil deal extension.
Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Regional Government has hired Wood Mackenzie, a British energy consultancy, to evaluate oil production and transportation costs. Saleh said the company will submit its final report within ninety days. Officials expect the assessment to support future negotiations and policy decisions.
Turning to electricity, Saleh announced that the total number of power subscribers in the Region has reached 1,963,000. More than 1.2 million subscribers now receive uninterrupted electricity under the Runaki project.
These beneficiaries include households, businesses, factories, and farms. Currently, nearly seventy-five percent of subscribers enjoy twenty-four-hour electricity. Saleh said the government plans to cover the remaining twenty-five percent by the end of the year.
He also highlighted the role of foreign partners. Major German companies such as ABB and Siemens support the Region’s power infrastructure. More than 4,000 megawatts of electricity now come from stations using advanced German technology.
As budget uncertainty continues, the Kurdistan oil deal extension and expanding power coverage reflect a strategy focused on stability, technical evaluation, and full energy access.
