One of the largest gas fields in the region, Khor Mor, has come to a halt in Iraqi Kurdistan following a drone attack. The suspension of gas supply to power plants has caused widespread power outages, which, according to initial reports, have affected more than 70% of the autonomous region's territory.
Al Jazeera reported this on November 9, citing local authorities and representatives of Iraq's energy sector.
The attack occurred late in the evening on November 8 at the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaymaniyah province. Preliminary data indicates that a drone struck a storage facility for liquefied hydrocarbon gas, causing a large fire.
One of the field's operators, the Emirati company Dana Gas, confirmed on November 9 that a fire broke out at the facility as a result of a suspected drone strike. The fire has been extinguished and there were no injuries among personnel.
"Production remains suspended until the damage assessment is completed", according to a statement from Dana Gas published by Rudaw.
The company did not specify the extent of the damage or give an estimated date for the resumption of production. Its specialists are assessing the condition of the equipment in cooperation with the authorities of Iraqi Kurdistan and the federal government of Iraq.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Electricity of Iraqi Kurdistan, the suspension of gas supply has caused the region to lose between 2,500 and 2,800 MW of power generation. This has led to a sharp reduction in available electricity for households, businesses and infrastructure facilities.
A representative of the regional ministry of electricity, Omed Ahmed, said that gas supply has been cut off to power plants serving Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Bazian, Chamchamal and Dohuk.
According to Kurdistan24, before the attack the region produced more than 3,700 MW of electricity, but after the gas supply halt, production dropped to around 1,000 MW. Local authorities warned that in some areas the duration of power supply may be reduced to five to six hours per day.
To prevent complete blackout, the regional authorities decided to involve hydroelectric power plants and generating capacities that can run on alternative fuels. Priority power supply will be ensured for hospitals, water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure facilities.
The Khor Mor gas field is of strategic importance for the energy system of Iraqi Kurdistan. It supplies fuel to power plants on which most of the region's electricity production depends. Therefore, even a temporary shutdown of production directly affects the operation of industry and utilities.
After the attack, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi instructed the establishment of a joint investigative commission with the participation of federal authorities and representatives of Iraqi Kurdistan. It is to establish the circumstances of the strike and identify those responsible.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. No official evidence of the involvement of Iran or affiliated armed groups in the strike has been released.
Khor Mor has been attacked repeatedly in the past. In November 2025, a strike on the field also led to a halt in production and a significant reduction in power generation. In July 2026, the operator temporarily shut down its main production facilities due to security threats.
Full restoration of electricity supply in the region will depend on the results of the damage assessment and the restoration of natural gas supply from Khor Mor. The timing of the field's return to normal operation remains unknown.
Sources: Rudaw (Dana Gas statement), Al Jazeera, Kurdistan24
