Iraq plans to expand oil exports through Syria and Türkiye

Iraq is advancing plans to expand its oil export capacity by developing strategic pipelines through Syria and Türkiye. Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair stated that the government aims to increase pipeline exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan and the Syrian Mediterranean port of Baniyas to more than one million barrels per day.

To achieve this, Iraq is working on a project involving US energy company Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar’s UCC to link Basra to Fishkhabour, with branches extending toward Syria. This initiative follows memorandums of understanding signed in July to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Baniyas crude oil pipeline.

Currently, Iraq is exporting approximately three million barrels per day with a production capacity of 4.2 million barrels. The long-term goal is to raise total export capacity to five million barrels per day once these strategic pipeline networks and export terminals are completed.