KRG gas ‘enough for needs of Turkey and Europe’

SULAYMANIYAH

REUTERS Photo

The natural gas resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq are enough to meet the needs of both Turkey and Europe, the head of the KRG’s Parliamentary Committee for Industry and Energy said on Nov. 29.

Gas reserves in Arbil, Dohuk and Sulaymaniyah were estimated to stand at more than 5.7 trillion cubic feet, but will reach up to nearly 8 trillion cubic feet if the disputed areas between the KRG and the central Iraqi government in Baghdad, including Kirkuk, joins forces with the regional government.

KRG Parliamentary Committee for Industry and Energy head Cevdet Circo said Turkey and the KRG held a strategic agreement with regards to the delivery of gas in 2017.

“Kurdish gas will reach Europe via Turkey. The Kurdish region can fill the gap created by Russia’s gas cut-off to Europe,” Circo said, as reported by Anadolu Agency.

Additionally, Sulaymaniyah Energy Committee head Galip Muhammed said Sulaymaniyah was the richest province in the region in terms of gas reserves, holding 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas alone.

“Sulaymaniyah has almost 80 percent of the natural gas reserves of the KRG,” he said.

Muhammed also claimed Sulaymaniyah’s gas was the best quality in the region, though it has not been evaluated yet.