Iraq could be a critical component of Europe’s energy security model – The National

Iraq could be a critical component of Europe’s energy security model – The National

On flying from Dubai to Iraq’s Kurdistan region at night, the geography below is written in unmistakeable orange-yellow flames.

The lines of burning unwanted gas map out the Rumaila and West Qurna oilfields in southern Iraq, then the historic northern Kirkuk field. Driving from Erbil to the northern city of Dohuk, another big flare crowns a mountain at the Shaikan field.

This wasteful combustion vividly shows how Iraq and its Kurdistan region are simultaneously bound together and divided by oil — and its mismanagement.