Norwegian oil company DNO has resumed production at the Tawke field near Zakho, but its latest figures show a dramatic decline in output during the second quarter of 2026.
According to the company’s statement, field operations restarted on April 9, 2026. DNO then began drilling eight oil wells as part of its recovery plan. Production resumed at the Tawke field on June 28 and at the Peshkabir field on July 11.
Despite the restart, the company recorded extremely low average production during the second quarter. Output fell to only 273 barrels per day, representing a 99.9% decline from the first quarter of 2026.
During the first three months of the year, DNO produced an average of 39,600 barrels per day. The second-quarter figure also remained far below the same period in 2025, when the company produced 56,070 barrels daily.
Oil sales in the Kurdistan Region also dropped to zero during the second quarter. In comparison, DNO sold an average of 14,753 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2026.
The company linked the decline to the lengthy suspension of production at its fields. Prolonged shutdowns affected operations, infrastructure and the pace of recovery.
DNO said any rapid increase in future output will depend on three main conditions. First, the company must confirm the safety and technical readiness of field infrastructure after the extended shutdown. Second, authorities must maintain stable security conditions around the production areas. Third, DNO needs reliable logistical arrangements to transport and export crude oil.
The company’s cautious approach reflects concerns about restarting complex facilities after a long interruption. Although production has resumed, output may remain limited until DNO completes technical inspections, secures the area and restores export routes. Officials have not announced when production or sales will return to the levels recorded before the suspension began.
