KRG Ministry of Natural Resources

Kurdistan Region – Iraq

Council of Ministers

Ministry of Natural Resources

Number: 8545

Date: September 15, 2015

Ministerial Order (Translated from Kurdish)

For the purpose of organizing oil and gas sector activities in a way that best serves the public interest and safeguards the people’s health and the environment of the Kurdistan Region, we decided the following:

1-      The small basic refining units known as Topping Plants mentioned in table 1 will not be closed and will continue to operate on condition they implement the KRG’s Health, Safety and Environment regulations within three months and pass an inspection by the Ministry of Natural Resources’ (MNR) teams.

2-      Topping Plants mentioned in table 2 will be closed and should not operate at all.

3-      Topping Plants not mentioned in tables 1 and 2 will be closed due to lack of information about them. Topping plants were previously given an opportunity by MNR to provide information about their operations.

4-      Topping Plants mentioned in table 1 that do not pass MNR’s inspections, topping plants mentioned in table 2, and those that were referred to in point 3 above should disassemble their topping plants and clean their sites within six months.

To implement the above-mentioned points, MNR asks the Ministry of Interior, especially the police and Asayish forces, Governorates, Administrations and other relevant authorities to monitor, investigate and hold violators accountable. In case of any violation, MNR will pursue all legal and financial means to prosecute the violators.

Sincerely

Dr. Ashti Hawrami

KRG Minister of Natural Resources

Note:

Ministerial Order in Kurdish and attachments (1) and (2).