BP Aims to Boost Kirkuk Oil and Gas Production Amid Iraqi Diversification Efforts

BP, a British energy giant, is working on a comprehensive plan to boost oil and gas production in Iraq's Kirkuk province. The goal is to support the Iraqi government in increasing production and supplying electrical power through increased gas production.

Zaid Elyaseri, BP's president for Iraq, stated that the objective of this project is to halt gas flaring while boosting production. He also emphasized the importance of building the Iraqi workforce in Kirkuk province and working with local companies.

The new contract in Kirkuk spans 20 years, and BP has been operating in the province since October 2017. The company plans to replicate its employment model from the Rumaila field in southern Iraq, where nearly 94 percent of workers are local.

BP's long-term contract in Kirkuk is significant, as it will benefit the surrounding cities, including those in the Kurdistan Region. However, Elyaseri mentioned that intermittent bombardments by armed groups have affected operations, but the Iraqi government has provided strong support to resume activities.