Ashti Hawrami dies at 76, former Iraqi Kurdistan oil minister

Ashti Hawrami dies at 76, former Iraqi Kurdistan minister of natural resources — Ashti Hawrami, then Minister of Natural Resources, Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraqi Kurdistan region, at the World Economic Forum 2014. Photo: Creative Commons/WEF/via iKurd.net

LONDON,— Ashti Hawrami, the former natural resources minister of the Kurdistan Region, died at the age of 76 following a battle with cancer, his family confirmed.

Abdullah Abdul Rahman Abdullah, commonly known as Ashti Hawrami, served as oil minister for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) from 2006 to 2019, a period marked by accusations of corruption and mismanagement.

Born in 1948, Ashti Hawrami embarked on his professional journey by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in oil from Baghdad in 1971, the same year he began working as an engineer for the Iraqi Oil Company in Basra.

He later transitioned to a British oil company from 1975 to 1982, honing his expertise in the field. In 1978, he earned a master’s degree in petroleum engineering in Scotland. His ascent in the oil sector culminated in 2006 when he became the Minister of Natural Resources for the Kurdistan Regional Government.

During his tenure, Hawrami was widely regarded as the architect of oil export agreements that favored the Barzani family and their political party, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

His administration has been criticized for enabling a system that allowed rampant corruption and secrecy regarding oil revenues. Allegations surfaced that billions of dollars were unaccounted for, with oil sales benefiting the ruling elite rather than the Kurdish population.

Hawrami’s dealings were often shrouded in controversy, as he was accused of orchestrating clandestine and possibly illegal oil transactions. These agreements were alleged to have enriched the Barzani family at the expense of ordinary Kurds. The KRG’s refusal to disclose the actual volume of oil exports raised significant concerns about transparency and accountability.

Hawrami was closely linked to Nadhim Zahawi, a UK Member of Parliament and former Chancellor, who acted as a “fixer” for Gulf Keystone Petroleum, a British oil company operating in the region. This connection underscored the troubling relationships that existed between political leaders and foreign companies, further complicating the already murky waters of Kurdish oil governance.

The Iraqi Kurdistan region has been labeled one of the most corrupt areas in Iraq. Watchdogs and leaked documents have revealed the staggering extent of financial misconduct, indicating that vast sums of oil revenue have gone missing. Analysts attribute this to a lack of oversight and accountability, which has allowed corrupt practices to thrive among the ruling class.

The Barzani family, often referred to as the “Kurdish oligarchs,” has routinely faced accusations of nepotism and self-serving behavior. Their control over the oil sector has led to allegations that they prioritize personal wealth over the needs of the Kurdish people. This dynamic has perpetuated a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement in a region rich in natural resources.

A turning point came on February 22, 2022, when Iraq’s Supreme Court ruled the oil and gas law governing the Kurdish oil industry unconstitutional. The court ordered Kurdish authorities to surrender their crude supplies to Iraq’s federal government, representing a significant blow to the KRG’s autonomy in oil management. The ruling nullified existing oil contracts between the KRG and various foreign companies, impacting exploration and export agreements.

Following this legal defeat, on May 19, 2022, Iraq directed oil and gas companies operating in Kurdistan to sign new contracts with the state-owned marketing firm, SOMO, rather than the KRG. The situation escalated on March 25, 2023, when Iraq suspended crude exports from the Kurdistan region and northern Kirkuk fields after winning a protracted arbitration case against Turkey.

According to analysts Hawrami’s legacy is marred by allegations of corruption and the suffering inflicted upon the Kurdish people during his time in office. Rather than a figure of progress, he is remembered as a key player in enabling the Barzani family to amass wealth at the expense of the populace, leaving a profound impact on the political and economic landscape of Kurdistan.