Iraqi Oil Minister Shahristani said on the 12th, although the central government approved the use of the Kurdish autonomous region of the country plans to export crude oil pipeline, but prior to the Kurdish regional government signed with some foreign oil companies oil contracts are still "not lawful".
Shahristani in an interview with Iraq's official television station, said that the Iraqi Ministry of Oil that these contracts illegal, because the Kurdish autonomous region in the signing of contracts with foreign oil companies when the "no consultation with the central government."
The approval of the Government of Iraq on the 10th of the Kurdish autonomous region through the national oil pipeline to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan oil export plan on June 1 formally implemented. By mutual agreement, exports of crude oil from Iraq's State Oil Marketing Bureau is responsible for sales. The proceeds of oil exports to Iraq under the unified management of the federal account, by all Iraqis share.
Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq of Kurds from the provinces inhabited by the composition. Since 2003, the Kurdish regional government in the absence of consultation with the Iraqi central government, the foreign oil companies have already signed and more than 20 oil production sharing contract, has aroused the dissatisfaction of the central government, but that the Kurdish autonomous region in accordance with the Constitution of Iraq, they have a certain right to manage internal affairs, including oil production fields.
May. 13, 2009
