Thought this fits in here better than the other Turkey-Iran or the Energy thread:
Since the 90's the KRG has aimed to export its oil and gas independently of Baghdad through Turkey, Ashti Hawrami has consistenly made comments to this regard. As the Kurdistan region's ties with Turkey developed, this occurred:
Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region detailed oil, gas and downstream plans that rely on Turkey, not Baghdad.
www.iraqoilreport.com
Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region may begin selling natural gas directly to Turkey within two years, its energy minister said on Tuesday, a move likely to anger the central government and further strain Baghdad's ties with Ankara.
www.reuters.com
Since then, there has been many other events. Notably, the recently meetings with Qatar that were the result of decades of engagement with the KRG - Qatar is interested in KRG gas and has been one of the biggest investors in the KRG. Within this month there were multiple meetings with Turkey and Qatar.
Now, the KRG has begun extending the pipelines to near the Turkish border, with the capacity for exports built in.
A new 52-inch pipeline to Dohuk, near the Turkish border, will bring feedstock to a dormant power plant — with extra capacity for more destinations in the future, including potential exports.
www.iraqoilreport.com
Peshmerga have concurrently begain building bases to secure this pipeline.
This seems to be one solution Erdogan is looking at to reduce Turkey's fuel import costs.
