UAE gas firm suspends operations in Iraqi Kurdistan after drone strike

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Apr 2024 17:53

Four workers died and eight others were injured when a drone targeted a condensate storage tank.

Screengrab of the moment when the drone hit the Khor Mor complex, in Iraqi Kurdistan, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Channel 8)

Emirati-owned firm Dana Gas announced on Monday the suspension of operations at a gas complex in the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq following a drone strike that resulted in four fatalities.

The Khor Mor complex, owned by the company, has experienced multiple attacks in recent years, but Friday's incident marked the first deadly assault.

Four workers lost their lives, the company said, and eight others sustained injuries when the drone targeted a condensate storage tank, Dana Gas reported in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

"Although there was very minor damage to the facilities, for the safety of all our staff and the facilities, we have temporarily suspended production and instituted specific procedural changes," Dana Gas said.

New🇮🇶: UAE-listed Dana Gas, part of the consortium that operates the Khor Mor gas field in #Iraq’s Kurdistan region in a statement today:
“… for the safety of all our staff and the facilities, we have temporarily suspended production and instituted specific procedural changes.” pic.twitter.com/E8kuHS74T4
— Bachar EL-Halabi | بشار الحلبي (@Bacharelhalabi) April 29, 2024

Recent years have seen multiple rocket attacks aimed at the complex, causing minimal damage each time, as no claims were made for the attacks. Kurdish region's authorities have blamed some PMF Iraqi factions for these assaults, yet no concrete proof has been brought forth to support their claims.

The strike on Friday caused a halt in gas supply to the region's power facilities, leading to a deficit of 2,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity, as reported by local electricity authorities.

Iraqi security forces have established an investigative committee to delve into the incident, affirming that those responsible for the aggression will face consequences.

Dana Gas stated its commitment to collaborate with governmental authorities to bolster security and defense measures, enabling the resumption of production at the Khor Mor gas facility.

Situated between Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah, the Khor Mor gas field operates within a region under Kurdish administration.

According to Peshawa Hawramani, spokesperson for the Kurdistan regional government, all four individuals killed in Friday's attack were Yemeni nationals.

In January, two rockets struck the gas field, resulting in a fire but no casualties.