Iraq signed an agreement with Iran for the supply of oil from Kirkuk on December 10. According to the agreement, crude oil exports should total 30,000 barrels per day, which would subsequently be increased to 60,000 barrels.

Until recently the key infrastructure of Kirkuk Province, including the oil and gas sector, was controlled by Kurdish armed groups. In mid-October, during an Iraqi forces operation, Baghdad took control of all oil fields belonging to the North Oil Company. Iraq began its operation in Kirkuk a few weeks after the referendum on independence in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The exportation was slated to start last week but there's been a delay; oil officials declined to give explanations for the delay, other than that it was technical in nature.

Reporter’s code: 50101