MILAN, Italy - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani's commitment to developing the Region's energy sector and growing electricity production is in line with US President Donald Trump’s agenda for unleashing “energy dominance,” said Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on Thursday.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Barzani on Monday presided over the signing of two major agreements in the energy sector between the KRG’s natural resources ministry and HKN Energy and WesternZagros in Washington DC. The deals have a combined value of around $110 billion, and aim to boost the Kurdistan Region’s energy sector.

During a panel discussion organized by Al-Monitor Global Institute in Washington DC on Thursday, Secretary Wright stressed the importance of energy as “the lifeblood of civilization,” hailing the KRG’s recent deals and keenness to further develop the sector.

“The development of gas in Kurdistan and the existing power infrastructure to grow electricity production and electricity delivery to the people of northern Iraq, to the Kurdish Region, and to their neighbors, this is fantastic. This is very in line with President Trump’s agenda to unleash energy dominance in the United States and to our allies abroad,” said the Secretary.

Asked whether he sees the Kurdistan Region's oil and gas reserves as a potential partner for the Trump administration's plans for integration in the Middle East, Secretary Wright responded "Absolutely!"

“I think Kurdistan has tremendous natural resources. I see great opportunity for American cooperation there as evidenced by the signing of these two deals, and we would love to see that commercial relationship grow and flourish.”

“We are very keen to work with and support the people of the Kurdish Region to turn their endowments underground of materials into resources,” Wright added.

Prior to his participation in the panel, Wright received Prime Minister Barzani, as the Kurdish premier continues his high-profile meetings in Washington DC.

Kurdistan Region PM Masrour Barzani on Thursday met with US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington DC

The secretary reiterated his country's support for increased American investment in the Kurdistan Region and the recently-signed deals between KRG and US firms pic.twitter.com/AAG9807F8b

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Wright welcomed Barzani’s visit and reiterated his country's support for increased American investment in the Kurdistan Region and the recently-signed deals between KRG and US firms.

“Prime Minister Barzani expressed his appreciation for US support and presented an overview of the KRG’s reform efforts in various fields, particularly in energy, Runaki, MyAccount and the government's broader strategy to strengthen the Region’s economic foundations,” read a statement from the Kurdish premier’s office.

The “Runaki Project” is the KRG's program to provide 24-hour power to residential neighborhoods. Announced by Prime Minister Barzani in October 2024, the plan aims to eliminate the electricity issues that the Region has struggled with for decades.

Speaking at the same panel on Thursday, Prime Minister Barzani stated that he was “very glad” to see the progress of the Runaki project, adding that all the major cities of the Kurdistan Region will have 24-hour electricity by the end of the year, with the entire Region expected to be covered by the end of 2026.

“Our goal is not only to provide electricity for our Region, but we know that the entire country, all of Iraq, and the region is in shortage of electricity. We have the capacity to produce more resources, more gas, so we can have more electricity not only for Kurdistan but for the rest of Iraq,” said Prime Minister Barzani.

According to the KRG, around one million people from across the Kurdistan Region will switch to the Runaki Project until the end of May. The Project so far has over 150,000 subscribers, benefiting over 600,000 residents across Erbil, Sulaimani, and Duhok provinces.