ISTANBUL, Turkey, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The Iraqi Kurdish region denies reports that Norwegian firm DNO received the OK to begin exporting oil, prompting speculation of a broad political deal.

The oil and gas chief of Iraqi Kurdistan says the region will develop its natural gas resources to provide electricity to its residents and a planned industrial center, and in the future "export to the rest of Iraq."

ERBIL, Iraq, June 30 (UPI) -- The contracts have not been published, but Ashti Hawrami, Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government natural resources minister, insists everything needed to know about what's in the dozens of contracts signed between the KRG and international oil companies is in the public domain.

The Iraqi central and Kurdish regional governments are ready to export; Iraq plans to finalize technical oil contracts by the end of June; Iraq in talks to unify oil fields with Kuwait and Iran; Iraqi crude could ease global economic woes, Indian minister says; Iraq renews 2006 oil deal with Jordan.

FAYSH KHABUR, Iraq, June 13 (UPI) -- The pipeline that could pump northern Iraqi oil for export is nearly complete but empty, ending for now in the soil near the borders with Syria and Turkey, on the side of a dirt road.

ERBIL, Iraq, June 10 (UPI) -- Iraq's Kurdish region has been collecting millions of dollars in signing bonuses for 19 oil deals inked with international oil companies but is waiting for a federal revenue-sharing law before turning it over to Baghdad.

ERBIL, Iraq, May 30 (UPI) -- The Iraqi central and Kurdistan regional governments will resume negotiations over the oil law and key issues in early June.

ERBIL, Iraq, May 30 (UPI) -- Iraqi Kurdistan's ministries of Electricity and Natural Resources are to be merged, and current oil chief Ashti Hawrami is likely to be named minister.

ERBIL, Iraq, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- DNO, the Norwegian oil firm with assets in Iraqi Kurdistan, says it needs a route to send the oil if it's to increase production.