Iraq: KRG gas 'enough for needs of Turkey and Europe'

Natural gas resources in the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) are enough to meet the needs of both Turkey and Europe, the head of the KRG’s Parliamentary Committee for Industry and Energy said on Sunday.

KRG natural gas is planned to be delivered to Turkey and Europe by 2017.

Gas reserves in Irbil, Duhok and Sulaymaniyah are estimated to stand at more than 5.7 trillion cubic feet, but will reach up to near 8 trillion cubic feet if the disputed areas between the KRG and the central Iraqi government in Baghdad, including Kirkuk, joins forces with the regional government.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Cevdet Circo, said that Turkey and KRG hold a strategic agreement with regards to the delivery of gas in 2017.

“Kurdish gas will reach Europe via Turkey. The Kurdish region can fill the gap created by Russia’s gas cut-off to Europe,” Circo said.

Additionally, head of Energy Committee of Sulaymaniyah, Galip Muhammed, said Sulaymaniyah is the richest province in the region in terms of gas reserves, holding 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas alone.

“Sulaymaniyah has almost 80 percent of the natural gas reserves of the KRG,” he said.

Muhammed also claimed that Sulaymaniyah’s gas has the best quality in the region but has not been evaluated yet.