Iraqi Prime Minister Ordered to Expedite Implementation of Oil Export Pipelines via Turkey and Syria

Baghdad, August 29 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Allawi on Saturday ordered the acceleration of the implementation of the strategic oil pipeline projects (Basra-Haditha-Payas) and (Haditha-Baniyas), which provide Iraq with alternative oil export outlets to the Arabian Gulf via the Turkish port of Ceyhan and the Syrian port of Baniyas.

The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that al-Allawi met today with officials from the Iraqi Ministry of Oil and representatives of several companies implementing the projects, urging the ministry to provide the best possible conditions and requirements for the implementing companies to ensure the projects are completed according to the highest standards.

Al-Allawi emphasized that the crude oil export pipeline project holds significant strategic importance for Iraq, as it diversifies export routes, enhances export capacity, and serves Iraq’s economic and developmental interests both currently and in the future.

According to the statement, al-Allawi was briefed during the meeting on the technical and economic details of the project, its long-term developmental impacts, as well as the export routes and the volume of oil expected to be exported through the two pipelines.

Iraq signed an agreement with a consortium of American and Qatari companies to lay oil transport pipelines from Basra to Ceyhan via the city of Haditha, with a branch extending from Haditha toward Baniyas in Syria. (End)