Rudaw: A Turkish-Kurdish gas deal would have enormous implications

With or without Baghdad’s approval, in all likelihood Turkey will turn to Iraqi Kurdistan to feed a growing appetite for gas, and this will have enormous implications for the future of the energy-rich autonomous enclave.

As the Kurdistan Region’s focus shifts from exploration to exports of its energy resources, Baghdad has stepped up efforts to block direct energy deals with the enclave by foreign companies and countries.

Turkey currently imports more than 90 percent of its oil and gas, and experts say its domestic energy production is in imminent decline. By 2025, Turkey’s natural gas needs are expected to rise up to 90 billion cubic meters (bcm), more than double the current annual imports.

Presently, Turkey is dependent on Iranian and Russian gas; but Ankara is known to want to diversify its sources. Moreover, there is a possibility that Turkey could lose Iranian gas if the United States goes ahead with stricter sanctions against Tehran that would shut down energy imports by Ankara that are paid in gold. MORE