Kurdistan’s oil is smuggled, but not 350,000 barrels a day: KDP MP

ERBIL,— A Kurdish lawmaker in Iraqi parliament has pushed back against claims that the Kurdistan Region smuggles hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil daily, urging Baghdad to provide evidence instead of making accusations.

Shirwan Doberdani, a member of the Iraqi Parliament representing the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), addressed the issue during a discussion on NRT TV Sunday, saying that such allegations lack proof and should be investigated on the ground.

“We don’t deny that oil smuggling occurs in the region,” Doberdani stated. “But it’s not at the level of 350,000 barrels per day as claimed. If Baghdad believes these accusations, it must conduct field investigations to support them.”

Doberdani also commented on the ongoing salary crisis in the Kurdistan Region, stressing that resolving disputes over public sector wages should not become a political weapon. He explained that employee salaries are linked to decisions by the Federal Court and urged the federal government to release funds while committees work to address broader disagreements.

“Baghdad has not sent any funds for public salaries in the Kurdistan Region, and this is harming ordinary citizens,” he said. “Withdrawing from Iraq’s political process won’t solve the problems. Kurdish factions in Baghdad must prioritize the rights of the people of Kurdistan, not just political interests.”

Earlier in January, Kawa Abdulqadir, a former member of the Kurdistan Parliament from the New Generation Movement, accused both the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of continuing to smuggle 400,000 barrels of oil every day.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has been struggling to pay salaries amid financial difficulties, including December 2024 wages that remain unpaid. The future of January 2025 salaries also hangs in the balance, leaving public workers in uncertainty.

The Kurdish region, governed largely by the KDP under the Barzani family’s leadership, faces widespread accusations of corruption. Watchdog organizations and leaked documents suggest billions of dollars in oil revenues are unaccounted for. Critics argue that the Barzani family prioritizes personal wealth over the welfare of Kurdish citizens.

The Kurdistan Region has long been seen as one of Iraq’s most corrupt areas, with ongoing financial mismanagement compounding its fiscal woes. Observers say that corruption, combined with political gridlock, has deepened the region’s economic crisis and left residents bearing the brunt of its effects.

According to local and international analysts, as well as watchdogs, the lack of control mechanisms in Iraqi Kurdistan has turned it into a haven for illegal financial activities, particularly among the Kurdish ruling leaders. The absence of effective oversight has allowed corruption to flourish unchecked, further exacerbating the region’s economic challenges.