Kurdistan Region, Rosneft agree to extend natural gas pipeline to Turkey
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Russian energy firm Rosneft and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have agreed to extend a pipeline to export natural gas from the Kurdistan Region to Turkey, according to a Reuters report.
Two sources close to the deal told Reuters the investments would amount to more than $1 billion.
The pipeline is expected to be capable of carrying 30 billion cubic-meters (bcm) of gas from the Kurdistan Region.
The export of Kurdistan natural gas from the pipeline will start in 2020 with construction commencing in 2019.
A spokesperson from Rosneft has confirmed the deal to Rudaw.
KRG MNR Minister Ashti Hawrami and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin signed an energy agreement in June.
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and deputy PM Qubad Talabani were also present in in Saint Petersburg, Russia, for the agreement.
At the time, four factions in the Kurdistan parliament said the deal was tied to the future of the Kurdistan Region, and disagreed with the it being inked without the parliament’s observation and interpretation.
The Prime Minister followed up with a press conference by explaining the deal was just an initial agreement.
“It was signed as a Memorandum of Understanding, but this is an understanding that possibly is more than 200-pages long and needs very careful [study] and it may take three to four months before we can say that it will come into effect, because it takes time,” Barzani said.
Barzani said at the time that the deals do not need the approval of the Kurdish parliament since the Oil and Gas Council has been given authority under law to sign such agreements with energy companies.
The details of the negotiations and meetings also must be examined and approved by the Oil and Gas Council, Barzani explained.
The Council, which includes the Kurdish prime ministry, the Ministry of the Economy, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, was established by a law passed by the Kurdish parliament.
The deals are a continuation and strengthening of one signed between the MNR and Rosneft in February, a contract on purchase and sale of crude for 2017-2019.
Two sources close to the deal told Reuters the investments would amount to more than $1 billion.
The pipeline is expected to be capable of carrying 30 billion cubic-meters (bcm) of gas from the Kurdistan Region.
The export of Kurdistan natural gas from the pipeline will start in 2020 with construction commencing in 2019.
A spokesperson from Rosneft has confirmed the deal to Rudaw.
KRG MNR Minister Ashti Hawrami and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin signed an energy agreement in June.
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and deputy PM Qubad Talabani were also present in in Saint Petersburg, Russia, for the agreement.
At the time, four factions in the Kurdistan parliament said the deal was tied to the future of the Kurdistan Region, and disagreed with the it being inked without the parliament’s observation and interpretation.
The Prime Minister followed up with a press conference by explaining the deal was just an initial agreement.
“It was signed as a Memorandum of Understanding, but this is an understanding that possibly is more than 200-pages long and needs very careful [study] and it may take three to four months before we can say that it will come into effect, because it takes time,” Barzani said.
Barzani said at the time that the deals do not need the approval of the Kurdish parliament since the Oil and Gas Council has been given authority under law to sign such agreements with energy companies.
The details of the negotiations and meetings also must be examined and approved by the Oil and Gas Council, Barzani explained.
The Council, which includes the Kurdish prime ministry, the Ministry of the Economy, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, was established by a law passed by the Kurdish parliament.
The deals are a continuation and strengthening of one signed between the MNR and Rosneft in February, a contract on purchase and sale of crude for 2017-2019.
Last updated at 11:35 to add Rosneft's confirmation to Rudaw.