Official sources have revealed that Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been exporting crude oil to an Iranian port via road for shipping to Asia for the past two months
The region is also transporting about 50,000 bpd of crude and condensates by road through Turkey.
Sources said that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been transporting crude via trucks over the border to Iran’s Bandar Imam Khomeini terminal. Although not certain, the amount is likely to be up to 30,000 bpd, they added.
An unnamed official source said, “It’s a political compromise.
“They cannot ignore the Iranians and go all the way ... with the Turks. They have to balance.”
An Federal Iraqi government official said that the only acceptable option for oil exports was through the Federal pipeline network.
“We consider any other trade, whether it be through Iran or Turkey, as smuggling. It’s illegal,” the official added.
The KRG, however, asserted that its right to exploit and export the reserves under its soil was included in Iraq’s federal constitution, which was drawn up in 2003.
According to sources, oil exported is mainly from the region’s three producing fields — Taq Taq, Tawke and Khurmala.
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