Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG) to Turkey’s Ceyhan port are expected to increase by 86 percent next month, reaching 250,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to Reuters.

The oil is being exported under the label of “Kirkuk oil,” despite originating from fields under the administration of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Northern Oil Company: “The Oil Belongs to the Region”

A source from the North Oil Company (NOC) confirmed to Channel 8 that the oil currently exported to Turkey “belongs to the Kurdistan Region” but is classified as Kirkuk oil in international markets for technical and logistical reasons.

The Kurdistan Regional Government’s crude has the same characteristics as Kirkuk oil, so it is marketed under that name

the source said.

The source clarified that actual exports from Kirkuk itself have been halted since March 25, 2023, due to the suspension of the Iraq–Turkey pipeline following maintenance and repair issues.

Kirkuk’s Oil for Domestic Use

According to the same source, Kirkuk’s total production currently stands at approximately 375,000 barrels per day, all of which is used for domestic refining inside Iraq. The crude is distributed among the following facilities:

• Baiji Refinery: 185,000 barrels per day
• Bazian Refinery: 45,000 barrels per day
• Kirkuk Refinery: 150,000 barrels per day
• Haditha Refinery: 30,000 barrels per day

This allocation fully consumes local output, meaning no direct Kirkuk-origin crude is currently being exported via the Ceyhan pipeline.

BP to Begin Expanding Kirkuk Oil Fields

In a development project aimed at revitalizing the Kirkuk oil sector, the Northern Oil Company confirmed that BP (British Petroleum) will begin work on expanding and developing the Kirkuk oil fields starting November 1.

The British energy giant had previously conducted technical assessments in the region, and its return marks the first major foreign involvement in Kirkuk’s oil infrastructure since operations were disrupted in 2023.

Background: KRG–Baghdad Oil Dispute

Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through the Turkey–Ceyhan pipeline were halted in March 2023, following an international arbitration ruling that sided with Baghdad against independent KRG exports.
Since then, negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad have led to a partial resumption of exports, with shipments now conducted under federal oversight but sourced from KRG-administered fields.

The increase to 250,000 barrels per day next month signals progress in cooperation, though disputes remain over revenue-sharing mechanisms and export authority.