The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government is responsible for the development of natural resources in the region, in accordance with Iraqi Constitution articles 111, 112, 115 and 121, under the supervision of the KRG’s Regional Council for Oil and Gas, and in accordance with Kurdistan’s Oil and Gas Law (Law No. 22 of 2007), which entered into force on August 9, 2007.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is the sole authorised signatory of production-sharing agreements with companies willing to invest in the exploration of hydrocarbons and mineral resources in the region. The ministry is also the authority awarding licences for transportation and storage infrastructure, hydrocarbons and minerals production operations as well as refining, petrochemicals and retail operations.
Under the auspices of the 2005 Iraqi Constitution, the Kurdistan Parliament passed an oil and gas law in 2007 to support the development of the region’s hydrocarbons. This legal framework supports a fair and transparent investment environment and establishes production-sharing contracts that balance the risk and reward of investing in the Kurdistan Region.
We have made available to read the production sharing contracts signed with the Kurdistan Regional Government. Read them here.
Transparency and fairness have been the cornerstones of the Kurdistan Region’s investment laws and policies. The Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative was incorporated as an article in the regional oil and gas law in 2007, and helps ensure transparency and proper budgetary management of oil revenues.
We undertake our work according to the principles enshrined in the Iraqi constitution, and according to the provisions of the Kurdistan Oil and Gas Law. We have made available to read a Model Production Sharing Contract and the contracts signed with companies.
The Ministry has regulations on land compensation, to ensure that local communities are compensated when their lands are used by oil companies. Read also about the KRG's regulations on importing and exporting explosive, chemical and radioactive substances for oil and gas industry uses.
The Kurdistan Regional Government has developed energy policies in accordance with the Iraqi constitution and the Kurdistan Oil and Gas Law. Read about our policies and the strategies we are using to achieve our goals.
Every oil and gas company active in the Kurdistan Region is encouraged to engage into
The development of local content in the Kurdistan Region is facilitated through the Regional Government’s capacity building programmes.