Iraq’s exports from Kirkuk oilfields to the Turkish Ceyhan port will remain between 80,000 to 90,000 barrels per day (b/d) as most of the produced crude oil from Kirkuk is directed to the northern refineries, Thamer Ghadhban, Iraqi Oil Minister, said on December 26.

The current production level at Kirkuk oilfield has reached 370,000 b/d according to Farid Al-Jadir, the head of Iraq’s North Oil Company.

Iraq oil exports from Kirkuk could reach 400,000 b/d, up from 300,000 b/d before production was halted in 2017, Kurdish official, Hoshawi Babakr, told Sputnik.

Al-Jadir pointed out that BP has been working on the field to increase its production capacity.

“BP is currently working with the North Oil Company on preparing a technical study that will completely reevaluate Kirkuk production capacity and how to increase it,” he said.

“We expect to present the final study before the end of next year before reaching an agreement with the company.”