Iraq Orders Resumption of Kurdistan Oil Operations After Security Pause

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered the resumption of oil operations in the Kurdistan Region starting Thursday, following a meeting with Kurdistan Regional Government and federal officials to discuss production restart strategies. Norwegian oil company DNO, the region's largest producer, announced May 7 that output in Iraqi Kurdistan would remain suspended due to the security situation in the Middle East. The company had resumed some drilling operations in April and stated it would restart an eight-well drilling campaign to boost output at the Tawke and Peshkabir fields once production resumes, though it provided no specific timeline. DNO's production fell to 52,800 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2026, down from 82,081 barrels per day in 2025. The Norwegian company holds a 75 percent stake in the Tawke license, while London-based Genel Energy owns the remaining 25 percent. The meeting also addressed the consequences of regional conflict on oil sector operations in northern Iraq.