The Kurdistan Region's Board of Environmental Protection and Improvement has set stringent guidelines for establishing oil refineries, making the approval process exceedingly difficult, according to Azad Nouri, the director of the Technical Affairs Office.

During an interview on Kurdistan24, Nouri stated, “As an authority in the Kurdistan Regional Government, we have not granted any license or approval to establish a refinery because the conditions we impose are very difficult.”

He outlined the comprehensive directives that must be adhered to, including the Ministry of Natural Resources Directive No. 1 of 2020 and No. 1 of 2024, as well as Directive No. 3 of 2021, which pertains to production quality.

The key conditions for granting a refinery license include:

- Treating sewage water
- Installing filters to prevent air pollution
- Installing a water purification unit
- Preserving green spaces inside and outside the project
- Utilizing advanced technology

“These conditions ensure the safety of the environment and citizens,” Nouri emphasized.

He also highlighted efforts to close many illegal refineries in coordination with the Erbil Environment Office, the Mayor, and the Governor of Erbil, with plans to continue these closures.

The Kurdistan Region has three types of oil refineries:

1. Governmental refineries, which operate legally without issues.
2. Large and small refineries, established during the 2015 oil and gasoline crisis, most of which have since been closed.
3. Illegal refineries, which will be notified and given a grace period to obtain official licenses.

“All illegal refineries will be notified and given a grace period to amend their status by obtaining official licenses,” Nouri concluded.