The central Iraqi government has decided to start delivering crude oil from Kurdistan to the state-owned oil company or the oil ministry, local media reported, noting that the price that Baghdad is going to pay to the regional government of Kurdistan is yet to be determined. For starters, however, Baghdad would pay Erbil $16 per barrel of crude until all related expenses are calculated, Iraq News reports.
The ruling had an impact on international oil companies operating in Kurdistan, which suspended operations until they had clarity on any changes in their terms of operation in the region. There was also a dispute between the government in Baghdad and the one in Erbil over these oil deliveries and who gets to keep the money from their sales on international markets.