Latest news with #HayanAbdelGhani
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
Iraq and Syria discuss revival of Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline
Iraq and Syria on Tuesday discussed ways to boost bilateral energy co-operation, including the revival of the long-defunct Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline that once transported Iraqi crude to Europe via Syria. Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad Al Bashir and Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani agreed in their talks in Baghdad to form joint technical teams to assess whether to rehabilitate the decades-old line or build a new one, said a report from Syria's state-run news agency, Sana, and a statement from the Iraqi Oil Ministry. Mr Abdel Ghani said the 'latest unrest in the region could affect Iraq's oil exports, making alternative routes a priority'. He proposed hiring specialised firms to determine the feasibility of restoring the old pipeline or building a replacement. Built in 1952, the pipeline ran about 850 kilometres from the oil-rich Kirkuk in northern Iraq to the Mediterranean port of Baniyas in Syria. At the time, its daily capacity was about 300,000 barrels per day. Operations came to a halt after the outbreak of Iran -Iraq war in 1980 due to political disputes with the Syrian regime, a close ally of Tehran. The pipeline briefly reopened in 2000 to bypass UN economic sanctions on Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The pipeline was heavily damaged during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein and has remained out of service since. Experts said it would need billions of dollars and stability in Iraq and Syria for it to be restored. Mr Al Bashir said Syria currently imports about three million barrels of crude per month, in addition to its own output, to meet domestic demand, Sana reported. He stressed the 'necessity of linking oil networks between Iraq and Syria to enhance economic co-operation'. Reviving the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline would provide Baghdad with a new export outlet, instead of sending oil to international markets through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, and provide Damascus with a source of badly needed fuel. Another pipeline, linking Kirkuk to Turkey's Ceyhan oil terminal, has been idle since 2023 because of a dispute between Baghdad and Ankara. Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz during its 12-day aerial war with Israel in June, jeopardising Iraq's oil sales that provide more than 90 per cent of its federal budget. Mr Al Bashir and Mr Abdel Ghani also discussed laying fibre-optic cables in parallel with the pipeline to boost regional connectivity with Lebanon, Sana said. The establishment of ties began after Syrian rebels led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, a largely Sunni group formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda, toppled former president Bashar Al Assad in December. Shiite-majority Iraq has called for an inclusive political process in Syria, expressed concern over the danger posed by a resurgent ISIS, and demanded protection for religious and ethnic minorities and Shiite shrines. In recent months, the two countries exchanged high-level delegations, reopened the main border crossing for travellers and goods, and increased co-operation in the fight against drugs.
Reuters
06-08-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Iraqi oil exports via Turkey pipeline yet to resume, sources say
CAIRO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - A restart of Iraq's Kurdish oil exports via Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline is not imminent, four industry sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, even though Iraq's oil minister was quoted saying he expected a resumption shortly. The minister, Hayan Abdel-Ghani, said on Wednesday that oil exports through the Ceyhan pipeline will resume later on Wednesday or Thursday after a two-year hiatus, Iraqi state news agency INA reported. The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline has been offline since 2023, after an arbitration court ruled that Turkey should pay $1.5 billion in damages for unauthorised exports between 2014 and 2018. Turkey is appealing the ruling. Abdel-Ghani said an agreement had been concluded with the Kurdistan Regional Government to resume the oil exports via the pipeline. INA quoted the minister saying that "80,000 barrels per day will be exported via Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline through SOMO," referring to Iraq's state-owned oil marketer. The pipeline was transporting around 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iraqi oil, including 370,000 bpd of KRG crude. The four industry sources said there is no deal yet between Baghdad and the international oil companies operating in the Kurdistan region. The northern semi-autonomous region of Iraq has sought to export its own oil, while Baghdad maintains that all Iraqi oil should be managed centrally through SOMO. Baghdad and the KRG reached an agreement to reopen the pipeline last month. The remaining hurdle is the producers. Oil companies operating in Iraq have been pushing to be paid the money they lost due to the pipeline shutdown. These talks are progressing, but there is no deal yet, two of the sources said. The pipeline runs from Kirkuk in northern Iraq to Ceyhan in southern Turkey.
Zawya
06-08-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Iraqi minister expects oil exports via Turkey pipeline to resume shortly, state news agency says
Iraq's oil minister, Hayan Abdel-Ghani, said on Wednesday that oil exports through Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline will resume later on Wednesday or Thursday after a two-year hiatus, Iraqi state news agency INA reported. Abdel-Ghani said an agreement had been concluded with the Kurdistan Regional Government to resume the oil exports via the pipeline. He said that "80,000 barrels per day will be exported via Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline through SOMO," INA quoted him as saying, referring to Iraq's state-owned oil marketer. There was no sign of an imminent restart to oil exports through the pipeline, four industry sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline has been offline since 2023, after an arbitration court ruled that Turkey should pay $1.5 billion in damages for unauthorised exports between 2014 and 2018. Turkey is appealing the ruling. The pipeline was transporting around 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iraqi oil, including 370,000 bpd of KRG crude. Baghdad said that SOMO was the only party authorised to manage crude exports via the Turkish port. (Reporting by Ahmed Tolba, Muayad Suadi and Alex Lawler, Editing by Louise Heavens, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Jane Merriman)
Reuters
06-08-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Iraqi minister expects oil exports via Turkey pipeline to resume shortly, state news agency says
CAIRO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Iraq's oil minister, Hayan Abdel-Ghani, said on Wednesday that oil exports through Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline will resume later on Wednesday or Thursday after a two-year hiatus, Iraqi state news agency INA reported. Abdel-Ghani said an agreement had been concluded with the Kurdistan Regional Government to resume the oil exports via the pipeline. He said that "80,000 barrels per day will be exported via Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline through SOMO," INA quoted him as saying, referring to Iraq's state-owned oil marketer. There was no sign of an imminent restart to oil exports through the pipeline, four industry sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline has been offline since 2023, after an arbitration court ruled that Turkey should pay $1.5 billion in damages for unauthorised exports between 2014 and 2018. Turkey is appealing the ruling. The pipeline was transporting around 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iraqi oil, including 370,000 bpd of KRG crude. Baghdad said that SOMO was the only party authorised to manage crude exports via the Turkish port.
Reuters
06-08-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Iraqi exports via Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline to resume on Wednesday or Thursday
CAIRO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Iraq's oil minister, Hayan Abdel-Ghani, said on Wednesday that oil exports through Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline will resume later on Wednesday or Thursday after a two-year hiatus, Iraqi state news agency INA reported. Abdel-Ghani said an agreement had been concluded with the Kurdistan Regional Government to resume the crude oil exports via Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline. He said that "80,000 barrels per day will be exported via Turkey's Ceyhan pipeline through SOMO," INA quoted him as saying, referring to Iraq's state-owned oil marketer. The Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline has been offline since 2023, after an arbitration court ruled that Turkey should pay $1.5 billion in damages for unauthorised exports between 2014 and 2018. Turkey is appealing the ruling. The pipeline was transporting around 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Iraqi oil, including 370,000 bpd of KRG crude. Baghdad said that SOMO was the only party authorised to manage crude exports via the Turkish port.
