An explosion rocked an oil production facility in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region on Tuesday, forcing a temporary shutdown of operations, according to the U.S.-based company HKN Energy.
The blast occurred around 7:00 AM local time (0400 GMT) at the Sarang oil field, though no casualties were reported.
In a statement, HKN Energy confirmed that operations at the affected facility have been suspended until the site is secured. The cause of the explosion remains unclear, but it comes amid a surge in drone and rocket attacks across Kurdistan in recent weeks.
Just a day earlier, three explosive-laden drones targeted the region, with one intercepted near Erbil International Airport and two striking the Khurmala oil field, causing material damage. No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. However, Kurdish authorities previously accused the Iran-aligned Hashed al-Shaabi—a coalition of former paramilitaries now part of Iraq’s armed forces—of downing a drone near the same airport on July 3. Baghdad has denied the allegation.
The incident adds to rising tensions between Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over energy exports. A major oil pipeline through Turkey has been shut since 2023 due to legal disputes and technical issues. In May, Baghdad filed a complaint against the KRG for signing gas contracts with foreign firms, including HKN Energy.
Iraq, long plagued by instability, has seen repeated attacks on energy infrastructure, often linked to regional proxy conflicts. The latest explosion underscores the fragile security situation in Kurdistan, a key oil-producing region already grappling with political and economic challenges. Authorities continue to investigate the blast as concerns grow over further disruptions to Iraq’s energy sector.
