Shafaq News- Kirkuk
British energy company BP does not prioritize residents andcompanies in Kirkuk despite applying that policy elsewhere, an Iraqi MP said onFriday, calling for a review of the company's hiring and contracting practices.
BP resumed operations in Kirkuk last month after temporarilywithdrawing foreign employees from its oil field development projects in Marchamid regional security tensions.
Dilan Ghafoor, representing the Patriotic Union ofKurdistan, pointed out that she raised the issue during a legislative session,urging the parliament speaker and the Oil Ministry to review BP's employmentand contracting mechanisms “to ensure fair recruitment and contract awards.”
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Kirkuk is home to some of Iraq's oldest and largest oilfields, including the Kirkuk, Bai Hassan, Jambur, and Khabbaz fields. Thefields have faced technical and security challenges in recent years, promptingthe Oil Ministry to partner with international energy companies to rehabilitateinfrastructure and increase production capacity.
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA),Iraq holds more than 145 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves.
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