Major Gas Field Attack Disrupts Power Supply in Kurdistan
A significant rocket attack struck the Khor Mor gas field in Iraq's Kurdistan region late Wednesday, targeting a storage tank and forcing an immediate halt to production operations. The incident, confirmed by joint operator Dana Gas on Thursday, represents one of the most serious assaults on the region's energy infrastructure in recent months.
The attack did not cause any casualties and occurred during evening hours, with firefighters successfully extinguishing the resulting blaze by early Thursday morning according to field engineers. However, the disruption to gas supplies had already triggered widespread power outages across northern Iraq.
Immediate Consequences and Power Disruption
The suspension of gas flow from Khor Mor, one of the region's largest gas fields, led to immediate electricity shortages. Kurdish electricity ministry spokesperson Omed Ahmed announced that the attack would cause a drop of 3,000 megawatts in power generation throughout Kurdistan.
"Firefighters managed to put out the fire in the early hours of Thursday," revealed an engineer working at the field, "but the halt of gas supplies had already caused major power cuts across the northern region." The gas field specifically supplies fuel for regional power generation, though the attack did not impact oil production or exports.
Political Reactions and Security Concerns
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani spoke by phone following the incident, with both leaders condemning the attack as "an attack on all of Iraq." They agreed to establish a joint investigative committee to identify those responsible for the assault.
Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Barzani, expressed frustration in a social media post, questioning: "How many attacks must happen before the U.S. government simply allows the KRG to purchase kinetic anti-drone equipment for us to defend our skies and critical infrastructure?"
The targeted storage tank was part of new facilities partially financed by the United States and constructed by an American contractor, according to industry sources. These facilities were recently installed as part of the KM250 project, which Dana Gas and its affiliate Crescent Petroleum announced in October had boosted production capacity by 50%.
Broader Context and Previous Incidents
This attack marks the most significant assault on Kurdistan's energy infrastructure since July, when a series of drone attacks on oilfields reduced regional production by approximately 150,000 barrels per day. The Khor Mor facility has faced multiple attacks in recent years, including unclaimed Katyusha rocket fire and drone strikes.
In a particularly tragic incident in April 2024, a drone attack on the same facility killed four Yemeni workers. Local officials have frequently pointed to Iran-backed militias as likely perpetrators of such attacks, which they characterize as actions against U.S. interests in the region.
The Pearl Consortium, comprising Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum, operates the Khor Mor field. Following the attack, Dana Gas shares declined by 1.5% to 0.781 dirhams on Thursday. The Kurdistan Regional Government continues to govern northern Iraq with considerable autonomy, an area where U.S. companies maintain substantial energy investments.
