Kurds Talk Gas With Gazprom

Kurdish government officials have been discussing gas supplies with Gazprom, the Russian state company, in Moscow.

Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, met Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, according to the company.

Barzani's visit was to discuss prospects for oil and gas cooperation, the statement said.

"The parties discussed the prospects for bilateral cooperation deepening in the oil and gas sector," the Gazprom statement said. "In particular, the meeting addressed potential interaction between Gazprom and Kurdistan's oil and gas companies in geological exploration, development and operation of oil and gas fields."

Gazprom Neft, the energy giant's oil subsidiary, is working on exploration blocks in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. Reuters says new deals were been signed during Barzani's visit to Russia.

However the ongoing dispute between Kurdish leaders and the government of Iran, which regards the regional government as illegal, create diplomatic and security difficulties.

The Kurdish government in December said production from the semiautonomous region could add at least $8 billion to Iraqi coffers, UPI reports. It has halted production in the past, however, because of political disputes with Baghdad.

See also: How Far Can the KRG's Oil & Gas take it Towards Economic Independence?