Four fields

Iraq signs MoU with BP to explore revitalization of Kirkuk oil fields

NEWSROOM — Iraq has signed a memorandum of understanding with BP, the multinational energy company, to explore the full redevelopment of the Kirkuk oil field and surrounding areas, aiming to boost production and maximize oil and gas output, the Prime Minister’s Media Office announced Wednesday.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony in London, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani. Amer Khalil Ahmed, Director General of the North Oil Company, signed on behalf of Iraq, while Zaid Al-Yasiri, BP’s Iraq Branch Manager, represented the company.

“The memorandum focuses on advancing the rehabilitation and development of the four oil fields operated by the North Oil Company in Kirkuk to achieve optimal production levels,” the statement read.

In August, BP signed an agreement with the Iraqi government to develop and explore the Kirkuk oil field, including plans to construct power plants and establish solar energy capacity.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has expressed outrage over Baghdad’s recent moves to negotiate oil contracts in disputed territories, including Kirkuk, accusing the federal government of bypassing constitutional provisions. The KRG criticized these actions as undermining the joint resource management required under Iraq’s 2005 Federal Constitution and pledged to pursue legal action to defend its rights and interests.

In a statement issued on Jan. 12, the KRG pointed to Articles 140 and 112 of the constitution, which mandate cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region in managing oil fields in disputed areas and ensuring equitable revenue-sharing. “The federal government is attempting to sign oil and gas contracts without following the very clear requirements of the Constitution, including Articles 140 and 112,” the statement read. The KRG also noted that Article 140’s referendum on the status of disputed territories remains unfulfilled nearly two decades after its 2007 deadline.

The KRG asserted its exclusive right to manage new oil and gas fields under Articles 110 and 115 of the constitution, accusing Baghdad of intentionally bypassing these provisions in its negotiations with international companies. “The Kurdistan Regional Government will defend its constitutional rights in all available forums. We will enforce our laws and uphold the rights of the people of the Kurdistan Region, including the people of Kirkuk,” the statement continued. The KRG warned that such unilateral actions threaten constitutional order and risk destabilizing relations between Iraq’s federal and regional governments.

BP has a longstanding history in Iraq, having been part of the consortium that discovered oil in Kirkuk in the 1920s.