Kurdistan's oil trading arrangements have provided independent revenue streams, but they also present problems, including rising debts and further political controversy.

Previous nominee replaced by Kirkuk-approved leader, despite previous objections over ethnicity.

Iraq exports remained steady due to strong southern output, offsetting losses in the north, where Kurdistan has appropriated all federal production into independent sales.

The Egypt General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has taken a 10 percent stake in the Kuwait Energy-led exploration contract for Block 9 in Basra.

New directors general named for the state-run companies responsible for refining in southern Iraq and gas in northern Iraq.

For the first time in over eight months, the KRG is making a pipeline export payment to producing companies.

KRG independent oil exports fell by more than 20 percent in August, to 391,000 barrels per day (bpd), due to pipeline outages in Turkey.

Technical problems, sabotage and political disputes caused exports to fall slightly, and revenue fell steeply along with a drop in the price of oil.