Drone strike on Khor Mor gas field triggers massive power outage across Kurdistan Region

Drone strike on Khor Mor gas field triggers massive power outage across Kurdistan Region

A drone attack targeted the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaimani province late Wednesday, forcing the shutdown of gas supplies to power stations and causing widespread electricity outages throughout the Kurdistan Region.

According to a joint statement from the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Electricity, the strike occurred at 11:30 p.m., disrupting all gas flows from the field. Technical teams from both ministries, alongside Dana Gas engineers, have been deployed to assess the damage and work to restore operations.

Up to 80% of Kurdistan Region’s electricity at risk

The Ministry of Electricity warned that the Region is facing an imminent and severe reduction in power. “Eighty percent of the Kurdistan Region’s power supply will be cut,” ministry spokesperson Omed Ahmed said, noting that several areas have already experienced blackouts.

Ahmed added that emergency efforts are underway to prevent a total shutdown of the grid. “Our teams are trying to avoid a complete blackout. Sensitive and essential government institutions will be prioritized,” he said. More than 3,000 megawatts of electricity are expected to be lost as a result of the attack.

Engineer describes intense fire at the site

An engineer working at Khor Mor told Rudaw that the attack ignited an NGL storage tank, producing heavy flames. “The fire hasn’t been fully extinguished yet, but it likely won’t spread unless another drone strikes,” the engineer said, speaking anonymously due to security concerns.

Iraqi government denounces attack as a terrorist act

Iraq’s Security Media Cell condemned the drone strike as a “treacherous” and “serious terrorist act,” emphasizing that the attack aims to undermine Iraq’s security and economic stability. The Cell confirmed that no casualties were reported and vowed to pursue those responsible.

Sulaimani International Airport announced that its flight operations remain unaffected.

Series of recent drone incidents at Khor Mor

Earlier this week, drone sightings around the field set off warning sirens. Khor Mor, located in Chamchamal district and operated by Pearl Petroleum—comprising Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum—has repeatedly been targeted by drone and Katyusha attacks in recent years.

Kurdish authorities have frequently attributed the attacks to Iran-backed militia groups operating in Iraq. In April last year, a drone strike killed four Yemeni workers at the site, temporarily halting production and causing widespread electricity disruptions across the Kurdistan Region.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack.