Turkish Energy Minister: Ankara seeks a more comprehensive agreement with Iraq for the Kirkuk-Jihan pipeline
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that Iraq wishes to transport 750,000 barrels of oil per day through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline under an agreement to keep it operational for another year, adding that Tur
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that Iraq wishes to transport 750,000 barrels of oil per day through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline under an agreement to keep it operational for another year, adding that Turkey has allocated sufficient capacity for this purpose.
The current agreement for the Iraq-Turkey pipeline expires this month. The two countries reached an understanding last week to keep it operational for an additional year, and a new agreement is expected to be signed in the coming days.
The pipeline regained importance after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, which led to a halt in Iraqi oil exports shipped by sea, according to Reuters.
Exports through the pipeline stopped in 2023 after an international arbitration panel ordered Turkey to pay compensation. Oil flows were not resumed until about two and a half years later, near the end of last year.
The pipeline’s total capacity is 1.4 million barrels per day, and it was transporting approximately 480,000 barrels per day before the suspension.
Data from Turkish pipeline operator BOTAŞ shows that the pipeline has transported only about 190,000 barrels per day since operations resumed.
Bayraktar told journalists after a cabinet meeting on Monday, “We were informed that they would need a capacity of 750,000 barrels. Although current flows do not exceed 180,000 to 200,000 barrels, we said that is fine; we can allocate 750,000 barrels for you.”
Bayraktar stated that Turkey wants to sign a new, more comprehensive agreement within a year, reiterating Ankara’s goal of extending the pipeline south from Kirkuk to Basra on the Gulf and increasing its capacity to 2.5 million barrels per day.
He added, “If Kuwait wants to pump its oil into this pipeline, let it. If others in the Gulf wish to use it, they can do so as well.”
He noted that a natural gas pipeline could be built alongside the extended oil pipeline, capable of transporting gas from Qatar or other sources.
Bayraktar also said that the $1.5 billion arbitration award against Turkey constitutes part of the negotiations regarding a new pipeline agreement.
