Slemani — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is accelerating efforts to expand the use of natural gas in Slemani as part of a broader strategy aimed at boosting industrial growth, improving electricity generation, and reducing environmental pollution, a senior energy official said.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Delphi Economic Forum Slemani, Ahmed Mufti, deputy minister of natural resources, announced that the KRG has signed eight new agreements this year with industrial companies to transition from heavy fuel oil to natural gas.
Mufti said the contracts form part of an intensive program to modernize the governorate’s industrial sector by replacing traditional high-emission fuels with cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
“The goal is to provide factories with a more efficient energy source while supporting industrial development and reducing environmental damage,” he said.
According to Mufti, the initiative is being implemented with the support of Qubad Talabani and seeks to expand natural gas supplies to industrial facilities across Slemani Governorate.
He described the project as a key component of efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing, attract investment, and create a more sustainable industrial economy.
Mufti stressed that expanding the natural gas sector is also essential to achieving reliable 24-hour electricity service across the Kurdistan Region. He noted that natural gas provides a cleaner and more efficient fuel source for power generation than the heavy fuel oils currently used by many factories and power plants.
Increased reliance on natural gas, he said, would significantly reduce carbon emissions and help address environmental challenges linked to industrial activity. He added that factories currently consume thousands of tons of fuel oil, commonly known as black oil, which has contributed to air pollution and environmental degradation.
The Deputy Minister said the government has developed a strategic roadmap under which natural gas will gradually become the primary fuel source for industrial facilities in Sulaymaniyah, with a full transition targeted within the next 18 months.
Mufti also highlighted Slemani’s potential as a major hub for natural gas investment, saying the governorate could attract up to 50 percent of all gas-sector investment in the Kurdistan Region.
Such investments, he said, would generate employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen the region’s energy infrastructure. He also renewed calls for the passage of Iraq’s long-delayed Oil and Gas Law, arguing that a comprehensive legal framework is necessary to regulate the sector and support long-term development.
