Why is Kirkuk famous for oil?
Posted on Feb 09, 2026 / Travel
Kirkuk is one of Iraq’s biggest oil hubs and is often called a key part of the country’s energy sector because of its vast petroleum resources. The area around the city sits on big underground oil and gas reserves that have been producing for nearly a century. Oil fields nearby helped fuel Iraq’s economy and attract global interest from companies and governments hoping to tap into the resources. Because the city’s wealth and control of oil have been so important, Kirkuk has often been in the middle of political disputes and negotiations between regional and national authorities. Oil production in the region has seen ups and downs because of conflict, infrastructure issues, and shifting control over the years. Even today, deals and development projects continue to shape how much oil comes out of the Kirkuk fields. For anyone looking at the energy world, Kirkuk is hard to ignore because of its long history as an oil producer.
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