Iraq’s proposed oil corridor through Syria remains under study as Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar says Ankara sees space for competing export routes, The National reported.
At a Nov. 6 briefing in Istanbul, Bayraktar said Turkey would not oppose the Iraqi plan. “We have enough market for everyone,” he told The National, which reported the remarks.
Bayraktar also said Ankara was proposing to expand its existing pipeline capacity from 1.5 million to 2.5 million barrels per day. He put the possible flow on a Syrian route at one million to 1.5 million barrels per day, The National reported. The outlet also said Bayraktar described Turkey’s route as more competitive on cost and security.
A July 17 media note from the U.S. State Department projects an initial capacity of two million barrels per day for the rehabilitated Kirkuk-Baniyas line. The department said the project would restore a connection between Iraqi oil production and Mediterranean export markets. The source descriptions leave open whether the estimates use the same route assumptions or refer to the same project phase.
Syria’s state news agency, SANA, reported in July that Syria and Iraq had signed understandings on rehabilitation, with a consortium including Chevron, UCC Holding and TI Capital set to prepare technical and financial studies. SANA said the effort is intended to expand Syria’s role as an energy transit hub.
The consortium describes the project as another path to Mediterranean markets alongside Gulf export channels and as a way to strengthen regional energy resilience. EconoTimes has previously covered how bypass pipelines supported Gulf oil exports during disruption.
Le Monde traces the pipeline to its 1952 opening and says it fell out of service after the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq; the line extends 800 kilometers.
The route, investment structure, timetable and commercial terms have yet to be settled, the consortium said. Technical studies, negotiations, approvals and definitive agreements remain ahead, and no completion date has been confirmed.
