A scene from an oil field in Sheikhan, Duhok, after being struck by a drone for the second time in July, resulting in a large fire and visible black smoke.
Following July drone attacks
US oil firm resumes operations in Kurdistan Region
DUHOK — Hunt Oil Company, a U.S.-based energy firm, has resumed operations in the Kurdistan Region following drone strikes that halted activity last month.
A company spokesperson told Reuters on Saturday that Hunt Oil restarted work at its Ba’adre oil field in Duhok. The company expects to return to full production by the end of August.
Last week, Norwegian oil and gas company DNO ASA resumed production in the Tawke and Peshkabir fields in Duhok’s Zakho Autonomous Administration following drone attacks in July, reporting output of 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, according to its second-quarter earnings.
Nearly 20 drone-related incidents were recorded across the Kurdistan Region in July. Earlier this month, Kurdistan Regional Government Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed said Erbil has detailed knowledge of who is behind the wave of drone attacks but is waiting for the results of a joint investigation with Baghdad before releasing findings. A joint technical committee is examining the drones used and identifying armed groups in Iraq suspected of carrying out the strikes.
The KRG has condemned the attacks as deliberate attempts to destabilize the Region’s economy and jeopardize the safety of its oil sector workforce. No group has claimed responsibility.