http://news.antiwar.com/2012/08/12/iraq-to-total-oil-end-kurd-ties-or-lose-southern-oilfield/
Under the ultimatum, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, Total will have to cancel all of its energy deals with the KRG or else lose its contract to develop the massive Halfaya Field along the border with Iran. Total is a minor player in Halfaya, but the field is one of the world’s largest, and could be an enormous blow to the company.
– Sat, Aug 11, 2012
Iraq to Total Oil: End Kurd Ties or Lose Southern Oilfield
Several Major Oil Companies Signing Independent Deals With Kurdistan
by Jason Ditz, August 12, 2012
Faced with a growing number of oil majors signing pacts with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Iraq’s central government has sought to strike back, announcing today that it has issued an ultimatum to French company Total SA.
Under the ultimatum, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, Total will have to cancel all of its energy deals with the KRG or else lose its contract to develop the massive Halfaya Field along the border with Iran. Total is a minor player in Halfaya, but the field is one of the world’s largest, and could be an enormous blow to the company.
Total announced a major oil deal with the KRG for its West Qurna-1 oil field weeks ago. Chevron and Gazprom have also signed deals with the KRG, but neither is in quite as touchy a position with the central government.
There was no deadline given for the ultimatum, and Total has yet to comment on what it is likely to do. Either way, it is expected to lose a major trading partner, and the split between Iraq and Kurdistan is liable to grow even greater.
and Iraq having trouble not just with big oil , but Turkey as well...
Iraq urges Turkey to deal with Baghdad, not Kurds
– Sat, Aug 11, 2012
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's prime minister is urging Turkey to deal with his country through the central government in Baghdad, criticizing Ankara's direct outreach to Iraq's self-ruling Kurdish region.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in a statement Saturday that Iraq rejects efforts by Turkey to treat the Kurds' northern territory "as if it is an independent state."
He added that if Turkey wants to maintain good regional relations, it must do so through Iraq. The statement says al-Maliki made the comments during an interview with a Turkish television channel.
Iraq warned Turkey in July that a deal it has to import Kurdish-produced oil is illegal. Relations deteriorated further earlier this month when Turkey's foreign minister paid a surprise visit to the contested Iraqi city of Kirkuk after meeting Kurdish leaders.
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