Participants in an open discussion organized by the Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies emphasized the need for a comprehensive legal framework to regulate the natural gas sector in the Kurdistan Region, in order to prevent the recurrence of challenges and disputes that have previously affected the oil sector.
The event was held on Monday, June 8, 2026, under the title "The Future Outlook of the Natural Gas Sector in the Kurdistan Region." At the beginning of the session, Dr. Sarwar Mohammed presented a summary of his study, "Natural Gas: From an Economic Resource to a Strategic Asset," which examined the current status of the gas sector and the opportunities for maximizing its economic value.
The discussion, attended by experts, specialists, and academics, focused on the findings of the study. Participants stressed that the most effective policy for utilizing the Kurdistan Region’s gas resources is to prioritize domestic consumption and development needs, while also enacting a dedicated gas law to prevent the recurrence of problems that have previously emerged in the oil sector.
Participants also highlighted the importance of preventing gas flaring and waste, citing Iraq’s experience where significant volumes of gas are lost due to insufficient processing and treatment infrastructure. They called on the Kurdistan Regional Government to invest in gas-processing facilities and supporting infrastructure to ensure efficient utilization of this valuable resource.
The discussion further emphasized that natural gas should be used to support electricity generation and petrochemical industries rather than being wasted or flared in production fields. Participants noted that the region’s gas reserves have the potential to become one of the key pillars of economic growth and sustainable development in the years ahead.