Iraq to build new oil pipeline to Turkey

World
Europe

Iraq is to build a new pipeline to allow oil exports to resume from the northern province of Kirkuk to neighboring Turkey, the oil ministry said Sunday.

Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaybi has ordered documents to be prepared towards building the new pipeline to "transport crude oil from Kirkuk's oilfields to the port of Ceyhan" in Turkey, the ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said in a statement.

An oil field is seen in Kirkuk, Iraq, Oct. 18, 2017. /Reuters Photo

An older pipeline was "too damaged by attacks by ISIL gangs to be rehabilitated," Jihad said.

Iraq had exported 250,000 to 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) through that pipeline before ISIL swept across large parts of the country in 2014.

The new pipeline is to stretch for around 250 kilometers (150 miles) from the area of Baiji, in the province of Salaheddine to the south of Kirkuk, to the Fishkhabur border post with Turkey further north.

Thus, the spokesman said Iraq will invite foreign energy firms to bid for the exploration and development of nine new oil and gas blocks bordering Iran and Kuwait.

A member of the Iraqi government forces walks next to a pipeline at the Bay Hassan oil field, west of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, on October 19, 2017. /AFP Photo‍

"The ministry is targeting to boost both production and reserves of oil and gas in cooperation with international companies."

Iraq has raised output rapidly in recent years with the help of foreign oil companies to become OPEC’s second-largest producer behind Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Iraq is to hold a press conference on Monday to announce details of the exploration blocks which are located in the south and east of the country and include one offshore block in its territorial waters, according to the statement.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters