Gas production has restarted at the Khor Mor field in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, restoring a critical source of fuel for the autonomous region’s power grid after more than a month of disruption linked to the US-Iran war.

The facility, operated by Emirati energy firm Dana Gas through the Pearl Petroleum consortium, had been forced into intermittent shutdowns as regional tensions escalated and security risks mounted. Authorities in the Kurdistan Regional Government said the suspension of natural gas supplies was taken to safeguard workers amid what they described as “extraordinary circumstances and ongoing events in the region.”

Khor Mor is one of the largest gas projects in northern Iraq and a cornerstone of Kurdistan’s energy security. The field supplies the bulk of the gas used to fuel the region’s power stations, meaning any prolonged halt in production quickly translates into electricity shortages for homes, businesses and vital infrastructure.

The resumption of operations follows weeks of diplomatic and security efforts to stabilize the area around the field, which has repeatedly come under fire in recent years. The complex has been targeted by rocket and drone attacks widely attributed to pro-Iran armed groups operating in Iraq, who oppose both the presence of foreign energy companies and the close ties between the Kurdistan Region and Western partners.

Industry analysts say the restart will ease immediate pressure on the Kurdistan Regional Government, which has struggled with rolling blackouts and mounting public frustration. However, they warn that the underlying security threats remain unresolved, leaving the project vulnerable to future disruptions as long as regional rivalries continue to play out on Iraqi soil.

Dana Gas and its partners have invested heavily in expanding Khor Mor’s capacity, aiming to boost gas output for domestic power generation and potential exports. Those plans have been repeatedly delayed by security incidents and political disputes between Baghdad and Erbil over control of oil and gas resources.

For now, the restart of production offers a measure of relief to a region caught between global energy interests and the shifting front lines of Middle Eastern geopolitics, underscoring how vital – and fragile – Iraq’s energy infrastructure has become in the shadow of wider conflict.