By Ayomide Otitoju
An early morning explosion on Tuesday at an oil production facility in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region forced a temporary suspension of operations, according to U.S.-based operator HKN Energy.
The blast occurred around 7:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) at the Sarang field, the company said in a statement. No casualties were reported, but the facility has been shut down pending security clearance.
“The source of the explosion remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing,” HKN Energy stated.
The incident comes amid a recent surge in drone and rocket attacks targeting the Kurdish region. Just a day prior, three explosive-laden drones were launched in the area—one was intercepted near Arbil airport, while two others struck the Khurmala oil field, causing property damage.
Authorities in Kurdistan previously blamed the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of Iranian-aligned former paramilitary forces now part of Iraq’s official armed forces, for similar drone activity. On July 3, a drone was reportedly shot down near Arbil airport in what officials described as a deliberate attack.
These events unfold against a backdrop of strained relations between Iraq’s federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdish regional administration over control of oil resources. A major pipeline carrying Kurdish crude through Turkey has remained shut since 2023, following legal disputes and technical challenges.
Tensions escalated further in May, when Baghdad filed a complaint against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for signing gas contracts with two American firms, including HKN Energy, without federal consent.
The Sarang field explosion adds to the growing security and political uncertainty surrounding Iraq’s energy infrastructure, already battered by regional instability and unresolved jurisdictional disputes.
