Peregraf
U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright today expressed strong support for the Kurdistan Region’s efforts to expand energy production and regional cooperation, declaring that electricity is essential for quality of life and development.
“We want to deliver electricity to other places and neighbors through the Kurdistan Region,” Wright said at an energy conference in Washington. “You cannot have a good life without continuous electricity, so electricity and energy are very important.”
He added that the United States and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) share a common goal. “This is the agenda of the KRG Prime Minister and our agenda as the United States,” he said. “I am very happy to see progress in the Kurdistan Region, and energy resources are improving.”
At the same event, the KRG’s Acting Minister of Natural Resources issued a stark warning about the region’s growing energy shortfall. “We have 650 million cubic feet of gas available to generate electricity in the Kurdistan Region, but we need 1,100 million cubic feet,” the minister revealed. “Only half of that is currently accessible for power generation.”
The minister stressed the critical role of U.S. companies in meeting this demand, noting that 64% of the Kurdistan Region’s electricity — over 5,250 megawatts out of more than 8,000 — is generated by General Electric (GE). “GE’s contribution is critical. Their operations alone power the majority of Kurdistan’s electricity supply,” he said.
He also criticized the Iraqi federal government for hindering energy development in the region. “Iraq has very little gas. Kurdistan’s gas is a key source for Iraq, especially for electricity,” the minister said. “These contracts are not against anyone; they aim to support development and benefit all Iraqis.”
The statements follow the KRG’s signing of two massive energy deals with U.S. firms HKN/Onex Group (operating as Miran Energy) and Western Zagros. The $100 billion agreements, signed on May 19 in Washington, focus on developing the Miran and Topkhana-Kurdemir gas and oil fields in Sulaimani province, estimated to contain 13 trillion cubic feet of gas and 9 million barrels of oil.
KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani attended the signing ceremony, describing the deals as a “milestone for peace and economic stability.”
“This billion-dollar agreement proves the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to peace and development,” Barzani said. “Our aim is 24-hour electricity in Kurdistan — and to share surplus power with the rest of Iraq.”
However, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil swiftly rejected the deals as “legally invalid and unconstitutional,” citing Baghdad’s exclusive authority over oil and gas contracts.
Meanwhile, General Electric continues to expand its presence in the Kurdistan Region. On April 27, GE signed a major agreement with Taurus Energy to boost capacity at the Bazian power station in Sulaymaniyah. The project aims to add 1,250 megawatts to the national grid by early 2026.
As tensions between Erbil and Baghdad escalate over energy rights, the KRG is pushing ahead with international partnerships, seeking energy independence and long-term economic growth.