Turkey Affirms Kirkuk-Baniyas Pipeline Does Not Threaten Economy, Eyes Joint Exploration

Turkey's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, stated today, Friday, that the potential reactivation of the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline between Iraq and Syria does not pose a threat to Turkey's economy. He also highlighted the possibility of future joint offshore exploration projects with Syria. Bayraktar emphasized that Syria requires substantial investments and that Ankara does not view the pipeline's reactivation as a threat to its economic interests. He added that cooperation in the energy and mining sectors could contribute to enhancing peace, prosperity, and stability in Syria and the region. He pointed out that there is potential for conducting offshore exploration operations in Syria in the future, depending on economic feasibility and geological conditions. On July 17, Iraq and Syria signed a memorandum of understanding under U.S. sponsorship to restart the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, enabling the transport of Iraqi oil to Mediterranean ports through Syrian territory. This agreement is part of Iraq's efforts to diversify oil export routes, strengthen economic cooperation with Syria, and open additional channels for marketing Iraqi crude.