The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is taking the necessary measures to contain and hinder the spread of COVID-19 in the Kurdistan Region.
A number of important decrees and instructions have been issued by KRG, which oil & gas industry stakeholders (“Industry Stakeholders”) are expected to observe and abide by in the performance of their day-to-day business activities.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) would like to emphasise that the issued decrees and instructions are temporary and intended to ensure the safety of everyone and in no way to hinder ongoing oil & gas operations. Industry Stakeholders should therefore note that it is still “business as usual” in the Kurdistan Region’s oil & gas industry.
In this regard, some of those expectations and in particular exceptions related to local movement and transportation in the oil & gas industry are clarified below.
Until further notice, Industry Stakeholders are advised to:
Local Movement
1. Minimise movements within the Kurdistan Region.
2. Only move goods and staff around if necessary for operations.
3. Contact the MNR where movements may potentially violate instructions issued by the KRG.
International Travel
4. Minimise international travel.
5. Only bring in staff from abroad if necessary (note that depending on which country they are coming from, they may be quarantined upon entry to the Kurdistan Region).
Offices
6. Consider temporary partial closure of offices.
7. Allow staff to work remotely from home.
8. Hold meetings via video conferencing services.
The MNR is confident that the Kurdistan Region’s oil & gas industry can continue to perform strongly despite the global COVID-19 crisis. The MNR requests that all Industry Stakeholders take the time to understand changes to the local business environment and cooperate with the KRG.
