Independent producers in Iraqi Kurdistan are struggling to maintain output, and expansion plans, in the face of at-best delayed payments for their output. The KRG, for its part, blames Baghdad.

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has resumed production and truck exports from its 40,000 b/d Shaikan oil field in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. The UK-listed independent, which has struggled with mounting debts due to non-payment by Erbil for past exports of Shaikan crude, stopped production and exports from the field in mid-February, but has since received pre-payment for future exports. (CONTINUED - 1485 WORDS)