ANKARA: A Turkish firm is partnering with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Exxon Mobil to carry out oil exploration in northern Iraq, Turkey’s prime minister said, taking Turkey’s cooperation with Iraqi Kurds on energy one step further.

Exxon, a global oil company based in Texas, was the first to sign up for exploration deals with the KRG. Others including Chevron, Total and Russia’s Gazprom Neft have followed.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said an agreement was in place for a Turkish company to become a partner with Exxon and the KRG and that details would be clearer after his US visit.

“Our oil company already has an agreement with Exxon Mobil in place ... This is a step with the KRG on exploration work,” Erdogan said at Ankara airport before heading to the US for an official visit. He is due to meet US President Barack Obama tomorrow.

Turkish industry sources said the likely partner is Turkish Petroleum International Company (TPIC), an arm of Turkish Petroleum (TPAO).

The Turkish company will take equity stakes in a partnership with Exxon and KRG and would become part of the production-sharing agreement, an Ankara-based energy source said.