Kurdistan announces plans to build second oil pipeline to Turkey

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) plans to build a second oil pipeline to Turkey, having just completed the first pipeline to carry oil out of the Kurdish region of northern Iraq to Turkey.

The 1 million bpd oil pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port will provide an export link that bypasses Baghdad and Iraq’s existing network, connecting the region’s oil and gas to Turkey and the world market.

Ashti Hawrami, KRG’s Natural Resources Minister, said Kurdistan would monitor its crude oil exports independently of the central government in Baghdad once a new pipeline to Turkey is opened, and said that line would link to the existing Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline and make use of its spare capacity.

Kurdistan’s push for independence
Ashti Hawrami told reporters at a recent energy conference in Istanbul, “Between 18 months to two years from now the pipeline from our region to Ceyhan will be ready.” Hawrami added, “Oil and gas exports are not the monopoly of anyone in Baghdad. It is our duty to pursue oil and gas routed independently…Turkey has been the quickest to recognise the new realities of the region.”

Opposition
The Iraqi Government has opposed the pipeline and most of Kurdistan’s oil deal with foreign companies, fearing that economic independence will break up the three northern provinces and set them towards a possible independent state.

Hussein Shahristani, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs said, “The Iraqi Government strongly opposes Kurdistan’s independent plans to build oil pipelines into Turkey.” He added, “Turkey is aware of Iraq’s concern and absolute rejection of that plan”.

Edited from various sources by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

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