By Baris Saglam
MOSCOW
Following the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant's siege of Mosul city in Northern Iraq, the Kurdish Regional Government will gain more autonomy and become a more important energy supplier for Turkey, says energy expert at the 21st World Petroleum Congress in Moscow Wednesday.
“It seems that one consequence of this fast moving and deeply disturbing situation in Iraq is that the area governed by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) will lead to more and more autonomy,” Daniel Yergin a Pulitzer prize-winning energy expert told Anadolu Agency.
"I think that would define its relationship with Turkey...and the Kurdish region will be a more important energy supplier to and through Turkey."
The increased autonomy of KRG will define its relationship with Turkey including its energy policies, said Yergin, lending KRG a freer hand to pursue more independent energy strategies at its own discretion.
ISIL, a terrorist group operating in Syria and Iraq, seized the city of Mosul on June 10 and went on to capture other cities in northern and western parts of Iraq. The central Iraqi government failed to stop the group's advance, signaling an authority and security deficiency in north of the country while the Pesmerga (Kurdish security forces) held firm ground against the attacks and even helped the central Iraqi army on some fronts.
ISIL-led attacks in both countries caused thousands to flee and disturbed daily life and economic activities,” whilst creating far-reaching complications in the Middle East. ISIL is a source of increasing instability in a region which holds 70 per cent of the world's oil and natural gas resources.
"This is not just Turkey's energy policy in question" said Yergin. "Syria and now Iraq are geopolitical questions for Turkey. The stability of the region and relations are doubtful."
- Controversial Kurdish oil exports
Oil exports from the KRG controlled region via a pipeline through Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan on May 22 encountered international arbitration lawsuit from Iraq against Turkey. Baghdad claims that Ankara acted against an agreement between the two countries and demands an immediate halt to the oil trade.
Despite Baghdad's objection, KRG continued with two confirmed shipments of oil from Ceyhan to international markets. However, the shipments found no buyers due to the threat of Baghdad's prosecution of potential buyers.
The new situation imposed by ISIL in northern Iraq crippled the central government's ability to fiercely halt KRG's oil activities through Turkey.
Meanwhile the KRG announced in early June that Erbil and Ankara has agreed a 50-year energy deal, highlighting KRG's and Turkish governments's determination and cooperation over joint energy policy targets.
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