Iraqi Kurdish Gov't, Russian Energy Ministry Delegation Hold Talks In Erbil - Authorities

The prime minister of the Iraqi oil-rich autonomous region of Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani received on Thursday a delegation of the Russian Energy Ministry headed by Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin, a spokesperson for the prime minister's office told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th August, 2018) The prime minister of the Iraqi oil-rich autonomous region of Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani received on Thursday a delegation of the Russian Energy Ministry headed by Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin, a spokesperson for the prime minister's office told Sputnik.

"During the meeting, Prime Minister Barzani expressed his readiness to support Russian companies in Iraqi Kurdistan, especially those working in the energy sector, support of development of their business and promotion of the implementation of bilateral contracts ... The prime minister also drew attention to the fact that the regional government of Iraqi Kurdistan will continue to support foreign investors," the spokesperson said.

The Russian delegation also includes Vladislav Baryshnikov, a deputy director general of international business at Gazprom Neft.

Major Russian companies are already engaged in Iraqi-based projects, with Gazprom Neft energy company developing the Badra oil field in eastern Iraq, along with two other projects, and LUKoil oil and gas company extracting oil at the West Qurna-2 oil field in southern Iraq and conducting geological exploration at Block 10, also located in the southern part of the country.

Russian oil giant Rosneft and the Iraqi Kurdistan have signed a number of agreements on cooperation in the oil and gas sphere. In February 2017, the sides agreed on a contract providing for oil trade from 2017 to 2019.

The extension of Erbil's cooperation with foreign oil companies has been strongly criticized by Baghdad, which considers all deals not concluded by the central government illegitimate. In late October, Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman Asem Jihad told Sputnik that the ministry had requested Rosneft to clarify its position on contracts with Iraqi Kurdistan. A spokesman for Rosneft replied that the company did not have to report to Baghdad regarding its decisions, while the company's CEO Igor Sechin stressed that the company complied with local laws.

In late January, Iraqi Cabinet Secretary General Mahdi Alaq told Sputnik that while Baghdad would not persecute Rosneft for its contracts with Iraqi Kurdistan, it also would not adhere to contracts signed with Erbil.