The Democrat explains the main obstacles to proceeding with the legislation of the oil and gas law.

A member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Wafa Muhammad Karim, said on Thursday that several unresolved issues are still preventing the long-awaited Oil and Gas Law from being passed, despite growing efforts to move the legislation forward.

Karim explained that recent developments have created an opportunity to advance the law, but important disagreements remain between Baghdad and Erbil that must be settled before Parliament can approve it.

She said that while there is a clear desire to pass the legislation, some parts of the draft law are still unclear and require further discussions and mutual understanding between both sides.

According to Karim, several sensitive issues remain at the center of the dispute. These include the management of existing and future oil fields, the powers and authorities of the Kurdistan Region, the handling of oil contracts, and the role of foreign and local operating companies working in the energy sector.

She noted that these matters are among the most controversial points in the proposed law and continue to be a source of disagreement between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Karim stressed that reaching a final agreement on these issues is essential before the legislative process can move ahead. Without resolving these differences, the law could face further delays despite ongoing efforts to secure its approval.

The Oil and Gas Law has remained one of Iraq’s most debated pieces of legislation for years, as both Baghdad and Erbil seek to protect their interests in managing the country’s energy resources and oil revenues.

Political leaders hope that continued dialogue and negotiations will help bridge the remaining gaps and pave the way for a law that provides a clear framework for managing Iraq’s oil and gas sector.

For now, however, the unresolved clauses remain the main obstacle, and both sides will need to reach compromises before the legislation can finally become law.