The parliament of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) this week confirmed Kamal Atroshi as the semi-autonomous region’s new minister of natural resources, finally filling the position following an 18-month void.

Mr Atroshi, whose confirmation was spearheaded by the ruling KDP, replaces the long serving Ashti Hawrami who was the region’s key player in the oil industry ever since his 2006 appointment. Mr Hawrami was transitioned to a “senior advisory role” in 2019, but has reported been spending much of his time in London, leaving Iraqi Kurdistan’s energy sector largely void of leadership (MEES, 9 October 2020). (CONTINUED - 364 WORDS)