CORRECT: Gulf Keystone cuts Kurdistan production as exports halted

(Correcting the name in the company description.) (Alliance News) - Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd ...

Alliance News 31 March, 2023 | 11:07AM
Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

(Correcting the name in the company description.)

(Alliance News) - Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd on Friday said it plans to shut-in production at two production facilities, amid an ongoing dispute between Iraq and Turkey.

Gulf Keystone is an Iraq-focused oil field operator.

On Monday, Gulf Keystone noted that Turkey closed the Iraq-Turkey pipeline after the International Chamber of Commerce ruled in favour of Baghdad in an arbitration case against Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

Baghdad said the arbitration tribunal of the Paris-based ICC had accepted Baghdad's claims in a dispute with Ankara over who had responsibility for exporting the oil from Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, where Gulf Keystone operates.

Iraq in 2014 launched the proceedings against neighbouring Turkey, claiming exclusive rights over Kurdistan's oil exports.

But in defiance of Baghdad, the regional government in Arbil continued to export oil through Turkey at a rate of around 450,000 barrels a day.

The Kurdistan government sees Baghdad as trying to profit from the region's resources, while the Iraqi government argues it should enjoy sovereign control over all of the country's oil production.

On Friday, Gulf Keystone said it expects to shut-in production processed at Production Facility 1. Meanwhile, production flowing into Production Facility 2 will continue into storage tanks at reduced rates for around another two weeks before also being shut-in.

The combined storage capacity at PF-1 and PF-2 is approximately 150,000 barrels, the company noted.

Gulf Keystone said it understands that discussions between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Ministry of Oil are ongoing. It added that it "continues to believe that the suspension of exports will be temporary."

"GKP is closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates to the market, as appropriate," the company added.

Shares in Gulf Keystone we down 1.9% to 142.60 pence each in London on Friday around midday.

By Sophie Rose, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd 131.88 GBX -2.67 -

About Author

Alliance News

Alliance News provides Morningstar with continuously updating coverage of news affecting listed companies.

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures