Erbil, Iraq – Sources in the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced on Friday the suspension of crude oil production at the strategic Sarsang oil field in Duhok Governorate, in the far north of the region. This came after attacks targeting oil facilities in the area.
Accusations against internal parties and attacks by marches
The Ministry of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Regional Government directly accused unnamed “internal parties” of carrying out this “terrorist attack” targeting energy infrastructure. In on-the-ground details, Diwali Kojer, a regiment commander in the Oil and Gas Protection Forces, stated that the Jumanki oil field, operated by the American company HKM, was attacked by two explosive-laden drones last night. The field is located in the Jumanki sub-district of the Amadiya district, approximately 80 kilometers northeast of Duhok. Kojer clarified that the attack did not result in any casualties. He indicated that the two drones landed in one of the company’s yards, causing a fire.
He added that firefighting teams were able to quickly control and extinguish the blaze. The company’s management also decided to temporarily suspend production at the field as a precautionary measure to assess the damage and ensure the safety of its employees.
Mysterious explosion in Erbil
In a related development concerning the security situation in the region, eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion that rocked Erbil, the regional capital, on Friday.
No official details have yet been released regarding the nature of the explosion or the extent of the damage. This comes amidst heightened security measures in the city. These developments cast a shadow over the stability of the energy sector in the Kurdistan Region, at a time when security tensions are escalating, targeting foreign companies operating in oil and gas extraction in the area.
