Iraqi PM Orders Resumption of Kurdistan Oil Operations

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zahidi ordered Wednesday the resumption of oil operations in the Kurdistan Region, with production set to restart Thursday. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said federal and Kurdistan Regional Government officials discussed the consequences of regional conflict and strategies for oil companies to return to production. Norwegian oil company DNO announced May 7 that it would continue pausing production in Iraqi Kurdistan due to the security situation in the Middle East. The company had halted output and drilling operations after the United States and Israel declared war on Iran. DNO said it would relaunch an eight-well drilling campaign at the Tawke and Peshkabir fields once production resumes. DNO is the largest oil producer in Iraqi Kurdistan. The company output 52,800 barrels per day in the first quarter of this year, down from 82,081 barrels per day previously. DNO controls 75 percent of the Tawke concession, while London-based Genel Energy holds the remaining 25 percent.