“ Turkey is ready to assist in the export of oil of Kurdistan to global markets ," noting that " the measure will be implemented immediately after filling storage tanks at the port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean ,” Taner Yildiz said in an interview with NTV Turkish television seen by Reuters , briefed by " Shafaq News “.
Yildiz explained , " when our storage tanks will be filled there will be a surplus ; we would like to provide oil in the world market starting from this surplus and we'll submit that to Iraq."
Oil pumping to Turkey began last December through a pipeline built by Kurdistan Regional Government as about 1.35 million barrels have been stored .
Kurdistan Regional Government has recently decided as a gesture of " goodwill " to export one hundred thousand barrels per day from April 1, 2014 through " SOMO " . Baghdad welcomed this move.
Kurdistan and Turkey have concluded a year ago , agreements in the energy field including oil exports from Kurdistan region to Turkey directly via a new pipeline .
The agreement raised the anger of officials in Baghdad, who assert that the federal government is the only owner of the right in the management of energy resources, and it rejects any attempt to export oil in isolation from it.
Baghdad and Erbil are conducting talks over months as Turkey tried to mediate between the two sides to find a way out of the crisis, which has worsened recently after Baghdad cut off funds form Kurdistan and delayed sending the salaries of employees in the last two months .