The autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan said Wednesday it plans to sell the first two million barrels of oil exported through its controversial new pipeline to Turkey at the end of the month. In a statement posted on Kurdistan Regional Government’s website, it said prospective buyers would be able to lift the oil shipments from the Turkish port of Ceyhan under arrangements similar to those used by the Iraq State Oil Marketing Organization. The prospect of independent exports from Kurdistan to Turkey has infuriated Baghdad, which claims it has sole authority to market Iraqi oil. Baghdad’s refusal to approve an oil-supply deal between Kurdistan and Turkey announced in December delayed the start of flows through the pipeline until this month. Kurdistan already sends some oil to Turkey on trucks, but the pipeline will allow it to rapidly increase these volumes. Kurdistan says it expects exports to increase to four […]