Iraq is set to export 12 cargoes of Kirkuk crude oil from Turkey’s Ceyhan port in November, according to a loading program seen by Reuters, signaling a steady resumption of shipments from the northern region’s disputed oil fields.

The schedule indicates that total exports will reach approximately 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) next month, marking a consistent flow of oil from the area.

The resumption of exports coincides with a significant step forward in the region's development. British energy giant BP has begun practical work to develop Kirkuk’s major oil and gas fields under a new agreement with Iraq’s Ministry of Oil.

The Joint Management Committee, which oversees the Kirkuk, Bai Hassan, Khabbaz, and Jambur fields, held its inaugural meeting on Thursday to finalize a development roadmap. Deputy Oil Minister for Extraction Affairs Bassim Muhammad Khudair announced that the meeting resulted in the formation of a project management team, the approval of an initial budget, and a comprehensive work plan. The committee also endorsed new standards for transparency and integrity in project execution and recruitment.

The BP-led development contract has ambitious production targets, aiming to boost output to more than 450,000 barrels of oil per day and recover 440 million standard cubic feet of associated gas. A key objective is to use the captured gas to fuel local power plants, addressing Iraq’s chronic issues of gas flaring and electricity shortages.

The Oil Ministry stated that the long-term goal is to transform Kirkuk into a regional hub for energy investment.

However, the deal has been met with political friction. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has raised constitutional objections. Earlier this year, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani urged for the inclusion of Erbil in the negotiations between Baghdad and BP, highlighting the disputed status of Kirkuk’s oil fields.

The fields, currently operated by the state-run North Oil Company, were under the control of Kurdish Peshmerga forces until the Iraqi federal government retook them in 2017.

The KRG has previously warned that the BP agreement violates Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, which outlines steps to resolve the status of disputed territories, including Kirkuk. The article remains unimplemented, exacerbating long-standing tensions between Baghdad and Erbil over the management of the region's vast energy resources.