BP-Kirkuk Oil Field Partnership Activated Amid Iraq's Energy Strategy Push
The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has activated its contract with British energy giant BP to develop the Kirkuk oil field, aiming to boost crude oil production from 320,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a peak target of 420,000 bpd.
The project, initially signed in September 2025, focuses on expanding crude extraction while capturing associated natural gas to eliminate routine flaring and feed domestic power generation infrastructure.
According to Ministry of Oil Spokesperson Salim Al-Rikabi, the contract also targets increasing associated gas processing from 255 million standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) to a peak capacity of 400 million scf/d, as well as upgrading and expanding infrastructure across North Oil Company fields and North Gas Company processing plants.
The initiative is part of Iraq's broader energy strategy to achieve natural gas self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported fuel. By phasing out continuous gas flaring, the partnership aims to redirect captured methane directly into national electricity generation, addressing regional electricity shortages while reducing environmental emissions.