Economic expert Nabil al-Marsoumi says foreign oil companies have laid out several key conditions that must be met before they resume oil production and exports in the Kurdistan Region.
According to Al-Marsoumi, the first and most important condition is security. The companies want guarantees that oil fields and facilities will be protected from drone and missile attacks. They say the safety of infrastructure, workers, and foreign technical staff must be ensured before operations can fully restart.
The second condition involves financial payments. The companies are seeking a clear and reliable system that guarantees they will receive their current payments on time once exports resume. Al-Marsoumi said this should be carried out in line with the amendments made to the federal budget law.
The third issue concerns unpaid debts. The companies want outstanding financial obligations settled, including money owed from previous years. Al-Marsoumi pointed to the case of the Norwegian oil company DNO, which had previously halted production and pipeline exports because of delayed payments estimated at around $1 billion.
He stressed that resolving these security and financial issues is critical if oil production and exports are to return to normal in the Kurdistan Region.
According to Al-Marsoumi, without clear guarantees on safety, regular payments, and debt settlements, foreign companies are unlikely to fully resume their operations in the region.
