Iraq reaffirms Kurdish contracts illegal

Sadr City's council officials prepare to hoist the new Iraqi flag in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008. Earlier this month, Iraq's parliament voted to remove Saddam-era emblems from the banner, including the stars thought to represent the three objectives of Saddam's now-dissolved party: unity, freedom and socialism. The new Arabic script across the middle of the flag reads 'God is Great'.(AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

KARIM KADIM

related stories

By News wires

 10 June 2009 11:15 GMT

Contracts that semi-autonomous Kurdish authorities have signed with private oil companies are illegal until they are ratified by the Oil Ministry in Baghdad, the Iraqi government reaffirmed today.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani also rejected paying companies that have developed the Taq Taq and Tawke oil fields in northern Iraq as part of contracts signed independently with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).

"These contracts need to be ratified by the Iraqi federal Oil Ministry. Till that time they are illegal," Reuters quoted government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh as saying to reporters at a news conference with Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani.

After the conference, Shahristani told reporters: "We will not discuss any compensation for these companies (developers of Taq Taq and Tawke) under any…

Become an Upstream member!

Membership includes a subscription to our weekly newspaper providing in-depth news from the energy industry, plus full-access to this site and its archives. Still not convinced? Try our free trial.

Already a member?

Login

Upstream share price index