Kurdistan
Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziyad Ali Fadhil (left) and KRG Electricity Minister Kamal Mohammad Salih (right) hold a joint press conference in Erbil on May 2, 2024. Photo: Rudaw/screengrab
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Electricity Minister Kamal Mohammad Salih on Thursday told reporters that providing aerial protection of the Khor Mor gas field is the responsibility of Baghdad, days after a drone attack killed four at the site and halted production.
A drone strike on the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaimani’s Chamchamal district, operated by the UAE-based Dana Gas, on Friday killed four Yemeni nationals and injured several others who were repairing a condensate storage tank damaged by a previous attack.
“The KRG has not failed to provide ground protection, but when it comes to aerial protection, that is the responsibility of the federal government,” Salih told reporters on Thursday.
Hours after the attack, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani ordered the establishment of a committee to investigate the incident.
The KRG minister stated that the committee has recommended setting up an anti-drone system, pending approval from Baghdad.
“Setting up this system is not a matter of finance. It requires the approval of the federal government,” he added.
Friday’s attack drew local and international condemnation. The KRG described the strike as a “terrorist” attack and called on the federal government to take action to stop these assaults in the future.
Khor Mor in Chamchamal frequently comes under attack, reportedly by Iran-affiliated Iraqi militias taking advantage of its strategic and economic importance for the Kurdistan Region, leading to major power disruptions across the Region and hindering expansion projects at the site.
In January, a liquid storage tank at the field was hit by an explosive drone, causing a halt in gas production and a subsequent power outage in the Kurdistan Region. The attack did not result in any casualties.
Khor Mor field produces 452 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, according to Dana Gas. The strike affected power generation, causing long hours of blackout in the Kurdistan Region.
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