Drivers in Iraq's semiautonomous northern Kurdish region have endured hours-long waits, some overnight, to purchase gasoline amid a deepening fuel crisis in the main city of Irbil. Most private gas stations were closed Tuesday, with only a few government-run stations selling fuel.
Kurdish regional government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani stated Monday that security threats linked to the conflict involving Iran have led Dana Gas, the largest energy company in northern Iraq, to reduce production at its Khor Mor gas field. These threats have included drone attacks.
Iranian-backed Iraqi militia groups have conducted multiple drone strikes against American interests within Iraq, prompting U.S. retaliatory strikes against militia bases. Additionally, some Kurdish opposition groups based in neighboring Iraq have engaged in armed opposition against Iranian authorities, and their bases have also been targeted.
Authorities in northern Iraq have attributed the fuel shortages directly to the ongoing conflict. By Tuesday morning, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), cars were lined up for blocks, with some drivers having searched for fuel for days. The long waits have led to frustration, with some drivers abandoning orderly lines to form multiple queues, resulting in shouting matches.
To address the supply issues, Barzani has requested the central government in Baghdad increase the Kurdish region's daily crude oil allocation for domestic consumption from 50,000 barrels to approximately 126,700 barrels. This increase is intended to bolster fuel supplies and potentially lower prices.
At one of the few operating stations, an attendant said that approximately 300 vehicles had received fuel that morning, with a limit of 40 liters per family twice a week. Drivers noted that the shortages became more severe after regional authorities mandated lower pump prices, prompting many private stations to cease sales to avoid operating at a loss. The situation highlights the irony of fuel scarcity in a nation whose budget relies on oil revenues for roughly 90% of its income.