The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Natural Resources Ministry has rejected claims by a local-Philippines joint venture that it has signed a deal to purchase crude oil to supply a refinery operated by a private Kurdish group, Rezhwan Company.

Philippines-based Black Diamond Development & Exploration Company and the local Rezhwan Company claimed on 16 April to have been appointed to operate a new refinery processing oil from the Taq Taq oil field.

However, the KRG says neither company is officially registered with the ministry, and have no connection with Genel Energy, the UK-Turkish energy firm that operates the Taq Taq field.

No new refinery has been licensed and it will not be allowed to operate, and the ministry will take all necessary steps to prevent the supply of crude oil to either Black Diamond or Rezhwan.