The assistant to Kirkuk acting governor for technical affairs announced an Iraqi government plan to build an oil refinery in the multi-ethnic province of Kirkuk at a cost of US$ 8 billion.
Ali Hammadi told KirkukNow that “following the Iraqi oil minister’s recent visit to Kirkuk a decision was made to build the oil refinery”, adding that “the local administration has intensified its efforts to ensure work on the project starts as soon as possible.”
Hammadi said, “Kirkuk was the first place in Iraq where oilfields were discovered and brought into production; therefore the non-existence of an oil refinery here makes no sense.”
The local official emphasized that building the oil refinery will create job opportunities and also tackles fuel shortages in the province.
The project is due for completion within 5 years
On April 14, 2019 a high-level government delegation led by oil minister Thamir Gadhban arrived in Kirkuk to announce the decision to build the oil refinery.
The strategic project which is due to be built on Kirkuk-Laylan road east of the province will cost an estimated US$ 8 billion.
The project will be funded by the ministry of oil and is due for completion within 5 years, according to Hammadi.
