Türkiye eyes new Gulf energy routes through Iraq
Türkiye is discussing new oil and natural gas routes that could carry energy from Iraq and other Gulf producers to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan and onward to Europe, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has said.
Speaking to TRT Haber, Bayraktar said regional conflicts and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz had underscored the need for alternative export routes.
Türkiye and Iraq signed a one-year arrangement on Aug. 1 covering the transport of up to 750,000 barrels of crude oil per day through the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline while the two countries work on a longer-term agreement.
Bayraktar said the Turkish section of the pipeline, running from Silopi to Ceyhan, currently has a daily capacity of 1.5 million barrels. Ankara wants to raise this to between 2 million and 2.5 million barrels and extend the network south to the Iraqi city of Basra.
