Talks to resume oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) have hit a brick wall after Baghdad’s Ministry of Oil moved to force terms on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) as well as IOCs with operations in the semi-autonomous region without their agreement. In a 27 March letter sent to the KRG’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and seen by MEES, the oil ministry said it had secured PM Mohammed al-Sudani’s approval for the expansive scope of work it has set out for a consultant needed to assess the region’s oil and gas sector (see table).