ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Gas delivery to Kurdistan Region’s power plants was halted as a safety precaution after an attack on Khor Mor gas field, leading to a 2,800 megawatt (MW) drop in electricity generation, the electricity ministry said on Friday.
“At 10:22 pm on 2024/1/25 due to a fire in the Khor Mor gas field, for the sake of the safety of employees and the field, gas exports to all power plants were suspended and caused a reduction of more than 2800 MW of electricity production,” read a statement from the electricity ministry.
The Khor Mor field, a key gas field operated by the UAE-based Dana Gas in Chamchamal, Sulaimani was attacked on Thursday, according to a security source.
Dana Gas confirmed in a statement on Friday that a liquid storage tank at its Khor Mor gas field was struck by a “suspected drone” strike on Thursday.
“There were no injuries to personnel. Production was temporarily suspended to put out the fire which was extinguished. Operations staff are taking all required measures to resume operations as soon as possible, which is expected soon,” concluded the statement.
The electricity ministry said that as “the situation normalizes, the electricity production will return to normal.”
In September, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said in a statement that said that it has boosted electricity production to 3,500 MW.
US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski condemned the attack on the Khor Mor Gas field.
"I condemn yesterday’s attack on Khor Mor in Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR). The attack damaged infrastructure & exposed millions to power outages in midwinter. The U.S. stands by our partners in Iraq, including the IKR, in support of Iraqi sovereignty & security," Romanowski said on X.
Since October, there have been frequent attacks on locations in the Kurdistan Region, the majority carried out by Iraqi militias targeting military bases housing United States troops in retaliation for Washington’s support for Israel in its war in the Gaza Strip.
Khor Mor field has several times come under rocket attacks over the past few years, reportedly by Iraqi militia groups affiliated with Iran.
Despite the security threat, Dana Gas said in 2022 that they would be able to meet the Kurdistan Region’s full gas demands in about two years. Khor Mor field produces 452 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, according to Dana Gas.
Updated at 1:25 pm