Iraqi officials are urging the immediate resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region to European markets through Turkey’s Ceyhan port, after a government-set deadline passed without shipments restarting.

Adnan Jabiri, Deputy Chairman of Iraq’s Parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee, emphasized the strategic significance of the Ceyhan route, stating, “European countries cannot receive Iraqi oil through the Gulf or Basra due to the long distance. Ceyhan is the closest point for European buyers, and Iraq cannot afford to lose this market.”

More than 48 hours have passed since Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani announced that exports would restart through the state-run SOMO company. At a recent press conference, Abdul Ghani said, “Today or tomorrow, we will begin receiving 80,000 barrels per day from Kurdistan’s oil fields to export via SOMO through Ceyhan.”

SOMO confirmed in a statement that all preparations are complete, including finalized contracts with oil-producing companies, but did not provide an exact restart date.

Ali Mashkur, another member of the Oil and Gas Committee, noted that while Kurdistan’s exports have been suspended for months, Iraq has compensated by boosting production from Basra’s fields. He expressed hope that “Erbil and Baghdad will soon reach an agreement to resume exports.”

Due to high production and transportation costs, Iraq plans to use the 80,000 barrels from Kurdistan mainly for domestic consumption while increasing Basra’s export volumes.

A major obstacle remains: Turkey has not yet renewed the Ceyhan pipeline contract, which is vital for exporting both Kurdistan and Kirkuk oil. The current agreement expires in July 2025, meaning Iraq and Turkey must negotiate a new deal to ensure continued exports.