BP Plc finalized an agreement with the government of Iraq to redevelop the giant Kirkuk oil fields, a deal that signals a return to the company’s Middle Eastern routes and should help to bolster production from the OPEC member.

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iraq and oil major BP have signed a deal to redevelop four Kirkuk oil and gas fields, BP said on Tuesday, a breakthrough for Iraq, where output has been constrained by years of war, corruption and sectarian tensions.

BP had stalled plans for years citing risks of political instability in the province claimed by Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan. In 2013 BP signed a deal with the Iraqi government “on providing technical assistance relating to the Kirkuk oil field”, according to the company’s annual report for that year.

The state-owned North Oil Company (NOC) and British Petroleum (BP) signed on Tuesday an agreement to develop four oil fields in Kirkuk.

Iraq and oil major BP signed a deal to redevelop four Kirkuk oil and gas fields, Iraq's state news agency reported on Tuesday. The deal marks a breakthrough for Iraq, where output has been constrained by years of war,

British energy giant BP signed an agreement with the Iraqi government on Tuesday to rehabilitate four oil and gas fields in Kirkuk province, just weeks after reaching an initial deal.

BP has signed a significant agreement with Iraq to redevelop four oil and gas fields in Kirkuk, aiming to increase production and support domestic energy needs. The project involves an investment of up to $25 billion and highlights a shift back to oil from renewables for BP.

UK energy company BP has signed an agreement with the Iraqi government to invest in several giant oilfields in Kirkuk, in a move expected to provide a big boost to the Opec producer's energy production.