Turkey, Iraq Hold Pipeline Talks Ahead of Crude Oil Deal Expiration

Turkey and Iraq have renewed discussions over energy cooperation and the future of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline as the decades-old export agreement approaches its July 27 expiration.

(Reuters) — Turkey's Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on July 1 that he met senior Iraqi oil and foreign ministry officials to discuss energy cooperation, including on the Iraq-Turkey Crude Oil Pipeline that runs from Kirkuk to Ceyhan.

• The decades-old Turkey-Iraq Crude Oil Pipeline Agreement, which governs exports through the pipeline, is due to expire on July 27. Baghdad and Ankara are still discussing a new draft agreement.
• The Iraqi delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom, Deputy Oil Minister Naser Azez Jabbar, and Iraq's Ambassador to Ankara Majid Al-Lachmawi.
• Bayraktar said in a post on X that Turkey aims to work closely with the new Iraqi government on more effective use of existing energy infrastructure.
• Turkey also seeks to support existing infrastructure with new connections, Bayraktar said.
• Baghdad last month asked Ankara to extend the pipeline agreement for at least a year to allow time for more talks, but Ankara said it does not want an extension under current conditions.