Iraq's autonomous Kurdish north launched its first crude oil exports on 1 June 2009, sending production from two northern fields through the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline with Baghdad's approval.
The Taq Taq field in Arbil, operated by Türkiye's Genel Enerji and Canada's Addax Petroleum, pumped around 40,000 barrels a day. Norway's DNO added 50,000 barrels a day from the Tawke field in Dohuk, with exports connecting to the main Iraq-Türkiye pipeline at the Fishkhabur border crossing.
Under the Taq Taq arrangement, Baghdad retains 88 percent of proceeds; the Kurdish administration receives 17 percent of that back, and the two operators share 12 percent. DNO declined to provide Tawke's revenue terms, though a company official indicated they closely mirror those at Taq Taq.
Regional president Massud Barzani presided over an opening ceremony marking the milestone, which had been delayed for years by disputes between Baghdad and Erbil over oil rights and the country's long-stalled hydrocarbons legislation.
Iraq derives more than 90 percent of government revenue from oil and holds the world's third-largest proven reserves, estimated at more than 115 billion barrels. Officials aimed to raise national output from roughly 2.2 million barrels a day to six million within four to five years.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in May 2009, in its own words.