The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has demanded equitable treatment from the Iraqi federal government over the allocation of fuel designated for domestic consumption, as Kurdish representatives in Baghdad continue to criticize the current quantities provided to the Kurdistan Region.
Sipan Sherwani, a member of the Oil and Gas Committee in the Iraqi Parliament, said the ongoing gasoline shortage in the Region is linked to the limited fuel allocation agreed upon between Erbil and Baghdad.
“The agreement allocates only 50,000 barrels per day for the Kurdistan Region’s domestic consumption, while Iraq uses more than one million barrels daily for other provinces,” Sherwani said.
He added that Kurdish representatives have urged Iraq’s Oil Ministry to adopt a fair standard for distribution, either based on population, with the Kurdistan Region representing around 14% of Iraq’s population, or according to the number of vehicles and actual consumption levels.
“We are open to any criteria as long as it is fair,” he said.
The KRG Council of Ministers recently reiterated that the Kurdistan Region has a constitutional right to receive its fair share of domestically used oil across Iraq, based on population, equality, and the principles of balance outlined in the Iraqi Constitution.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also raised the issue during a press conference, criticizing Baghdad’s policy of providing fuel subsidies in other parts of Iraq while failing to allocate similar support to the Region.
The Prime Minister stated that Iraq consumes approximately one million barrels of oil daily for domestic needs. Based on the Kurdistan Region’s share of 12.6% in the federal budget, its allocation should amount to about 126,700 barrels per day. However, Baghdad currently provides only 50,000 barrels.
PM Barzani described the shortfall as a major injustice and called for the remaining amount to be allocated to the Region.
At the same time, he instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources to review fuel prices in the Kurdistan Region, ensuring that the price of normal gasoline does not exceed 750 Iraqi dinars per liter and commercial gasoline does not exceed 850 Iraqi dinars. He also ordered closer monitoring of premium fuel prices to prevent monopolies and protect consumers.
The KRG continues to call for a fair implementation of constitutional rights and equal treatment in the distribution of national resources.
