PM Barzani discusses energy, education, migration with PM Johnson

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani arrived on an official visit to the UK on Monday, where he held a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson a day later, during which the two leaders discussed energy exports from the Region, migration, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“Prime Minister Barzani spoke about his aspiration to export energy to Europe, and the Prime Minister lauded his efforts to help reduce Western reliance on Russian oil and gas,” UK Prime Minister’s office said in a statement on Tuesday, without providing further details. 

The statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) about the visit stated that the UK has expressed readiness to help the Kurdistan Region in all fields, particularly by assisting the Region and Iraq’s efforts in fighting the increasing threat of the Islamic State (ISIS). PM Barzani also offered assistance on all aspects to facilitate the operations of UK businesses in the Region. 

“The British Prime Minister expressed the readiness of his country to assist the Kurdistan Region in all fields and emphasized the importance of resolution of issues between the KRG and the Federal Government on the basis of the constitution,” the KRG statement read

PM Barzani tweeted that UK businesses “have been part of Kurdistan’s story” and that his government was looking at working towards further contribution in the agricultural and financial sectors. He added that British companies “help create local jobs through the automotive trade; capture flared gas for clean, reliable electricity, and strengthen our public finances.”

The KRG statement did not touch upon the topic of energy but said that the two leaders discussed the major issues in Iraq and the wider region. 

The Kurdistan Region exports close to half a million barrels of oil per day to the international market and there have been talks of exporting natural gas to Western Europe via Turkey as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the consequences of Europe’s unhealthy reliance on Russian energy.

The Region’s energy resources have been a point of contention for the Iraqi federal government as it insists on bringing these resources under its control. Neighboring Iran is also wary of the possibility of energy exports from the Kurdistan Region to the West. 

“Great to learn of such significant progress in Kurdistan and also of their energy ambitions - notably to be a significant supplier to Europe at this crucial time,” Greg Hands, Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, tweeted following his meeting with PM Barzani. 

The Kurdistan Region currently produces around 5 billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas, and aims to produce another 20 BCM by 2026, which could reduce its reliance on Iraq for Iranian energy. It could then also export gas to Europe via Turkey, according to a study by the Atlantic Council brought about by the US Department of Energy in January 2020.

"Iraq flares vast quantities at time as much as the US exports and as a result it remains depending on its neighbors," Matthew Zais, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Energy Department's Office of International Affairs said on 12 January 2021. "So we have a particularly artificial energy situation in Iraq that is right for solutions so it is against this backdrop that Kurdistan Region natural gas resources are critical components for any of these solutions."

Prime Minister Barzani’s trip comes at a time when the KRG is under extreme pressure from Baghdad over its energy sector. Iraq’s federal court ruled in February that the KRG oil and gas law from 2007 is unconstitutional, and demanded that the Kurdistan Region hands over crude supplies to the federal government. The court’s ruling was rejected, with PM Barzani describing it as “political” and said it was made by “political appointees to basically put pressure on us at this juncture.”

In a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Barzani talked about the “difficult neighborhood” where the Kurdistan Region is located and spoke about the current divisions between Erbil and Baghdad.  “I believe the UK can help bridge the gulf between Erbil and Baghdad,” Barzani tweeted. 

UK Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East Amanda Milling reiterated the country’s support to the Kurdistan Region’s security and stability.

The KRG's statement added that PM Barzani was praised for his role in addressing the migration crisis. Thousands of people from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region left the country in 2021 for Europe. A boat carrying 33 migrants from different countries, including Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, capsized in the English Channel on November 24. 

The highly publicized reception PM Barzani received in London is a strong statement from the UK and recognition of the Kurdish leader at this decisive time when the Kurdistan Region is trying to secure an important role in the energy markets, as the price of oil has soared since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. 

“The Prime Minister [Johnson] updated Prime Minister Barzani on his recent visit to Kyiv and reiterated the need for the international community to continue to push back against Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” UK Prime Minister’s office said.

The shortages in the international energy market as a result of the war in Ukraine have highlighted the importance of smaller players, such as the Kurdistan Region, for the world market. 

Speaking at the World Government Forum in Dubai five weeks after the Russian invasion began, and shortly after Iran fired 12 ballistic missiles at Erbil - possibly to stop the Kurds from exploiting their natural gas resources - PM Barzani was emphatic about the key role the Kurdistan Region could play.

“We are one of the Regions that are flourishing and are trying to become a main player to provide energy, not just to the region, but hopefully to Europe and to the rest of the world, as we are discovering more oil and gas fields and we are trying to develop those areas and this is something that may not be in the interest of the Iranians in this case,” Barzani said at the forum.

“We are trying to at least provide some of the shortages that exist in the world, now the question is, are we allowed to go and do that, because we see that not only the rocket trying to stop us but there are also institutions [in Baghdad] that have been manipulated that are trying to stop us from doing what we think would be in the best interest far region, the rest of Iraq and also the world,” he added.