Iraq and oil major BP signed a deal to redevelop four Kirkuk oil and gas fields, Iraq's state news agency reported on Tuesday. The deal marks a breakthrough for Iraq, where output has been constrained by years of war,

BP Plc finalized an agreement with the government of Iraq to redevelop the giant Kirkuk oil fields, a deal that signals a return to the company’s Middle Eastern routes and should help to bolster production from the OPEC member.

BP will redevelop 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent across five fields in Iraq, all of which are currently operated by state-owned North Oil Company.

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iraq and oil major BP have signed a deal to redevelop four Kirkuk oil and gas fields, BP said on Tuesday, a breakthrough for Iraq, where output has been constrained by years of war, corruption and sectarian tensions.

The state-owned North Oil Company (NOC) and British Petroleum (BP) signed on Tuesday an agreement to develop four oil fields in Kirkuk.

Government of the Republic of Iraq to invest in several giant oil fields in Kirkuk providing for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the fields, spanning oil, gas, power and water with potential for investment in exploration.

BP had stalled plans for years citing risks of political instability in the province claimed by Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan. In 2013 BP signed a deal with the Iraqi government “on providing technical assistance relating to the Kirkuk oil field”, according to the company’s annual report for that year.

Iraq and BP have signed a significant agreement to redevelop Kirkuk's oil and gas fields. This development aims to increase oil output that has been restricted due to years of conflict and instability in the region.

The agreement, signed between the Iraqi Oil Ministry's North Oil Company and BP, focuses on the development of the Bai Hassan, Avana, Chamabor, and Khabbaz oil fields.

The energy giant's announcement of the tie-up comes as it finalises plans to ditch renewables targets set under previous CEO. View on euronews