Turkey is preparing to explore for oil in the Hindren and Choman blocks of Iraqi Kurdistan more than a year after a hitherto non-existent Turkish energy entity emerged as the new kid on the block. But there’s a catch.

A day after Turkish Oil Minister Taner Yildiz announced plans to start drilling in the two blocks, which are wedged between the Iranian border and ExxonMobil’s Betwata exploration block, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) warned that any exploration in its area of control in Mount Qandil could not proceed without its blessing. (CONTINUED - 2391 WORDS)