Dana Gas resumes gas production at Khor Mor after drone attack: Deputy minister

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Dana Gas on Friday resumed gas production at the Khor Mor field in Sulaimani province one day after it was hit by a weaponized drone, Kurdistan Region's natural resources ministry told Rudaw, adding that they have also resumed power generation. 

The Khor Mor field, a critical gas field operated by the UAE-based Dana Gas, in Sulaimani province’s Chamchamal district was attacked late Thursday. A liquid storage tank was hit by a weaponized drone, causing a halt in gas production and a subsequent power outage in the Kurdistan Region, according to the Kurdish electricity ministry.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Ahmed Mufti told Rudaw that they have resumed the production of gas at the field at the same level it was before the field was attacked on Thursday. He noted that they have also resumed power generation at the previous capacity. 

The ministry will publish details on Saturday, the Mufti. 

Shakir Wajid Shakir, head of Dana Gas’ Iraq and Kurdistan Region branch, told Rudaw that they have resumed operations.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Friday ordered an investigation into the attack.

The Joint Operations Command said in a statement on Friday that Sudani has “directed an investigation to be conducted to determine the circumstances of this incident, to be completed within 48 hours.”

There have been no reported casualties in the incident, and as of now, no group has claimed responsibility.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani called on the federal government and Kurdistan Region's "friends" to help the Region prevent such attacks, adding that issuing condemnations against such attacks is not enough.

Khor Mor field has several times come under rocket attacks over the past few years, reportedly by Iraqi militia groups affiliated with Iran. This is the first time it is being targeted in months.

Despite the security threat, Dana Gas said in 2022 that they would be able to meet the Kurdistan Region’s full gas demands in about two years. Khor Mor field produces 452 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, according to Dana Gas.

Thursday’s drone attack on the key gas field has been condemned by several countries, including US, UK and Canada.