Kirkuk-Banias pipeline

Iraq and Syria have agreed to form a joint committee to study the potential reactivation of the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline, which has been out of service since 2003. This move is a strategic effort by both nations to revive their energy sectors and diversify oil export routes.

Key Details of the Proposed Reactivation

• Background: The pipeline was built in 1952 to transport crude oil from Iraq’s Kirkuk oil fields to the Syrian port of Banias on the Mediterranean coast. It was extensively damaged during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and has remained inactive since.
• Assessment Process: The new joint committee, which includes energy officials from both countries, is tasked with assessing the pipeline’s current condition and the feasibility of resuming exports. The plan is to hire an international consultant to evaluate its operational readiness, pumping systems, and the overall cost of rehabilitation.
• Significance for Iraq: This initiative provides Iraq with a critical alternative to its primary oil export route through Turkey. The need for a new outlet became urgent after a 2023 international arbitration ruling forced the closure of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which significantly impacted Iraq’s access to international buyers and led to a dispute with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
• Significance for Syria: For Syria, which has been severely affected by years of civil war, reactivating the pipeline could be a major economic lifeline.

(Source: AIR)