Iraq-Syria oil flows depend on security

Iraq is interested in re-activating a pipeline linking its oil centre of Kirkuk to a Syrian port only if it could be secured, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain Al Shahristani said.

The two countries, which are at odds politically, have been discussing restarting the 880-km pipeline from Kirkuk to the Banias terminal on the Mediterranean.
The pipeline, which was built in the early 1950s, was bombed by the US during its invasion that removed Saddam Hussein from power in 2003 and ushered instability, including relentless sabotage against Iraq’s oil infrastructure.

The main issue is security. We hope for a joint effort with Syria to secure the pipeline so we can begin overhauling it on the Iraqi side,’ Sharistani said after meeting his Syrian counterpart Soufian Alao.

Shahristani said the pipeline was a focus of the talks.

‘We will only embark on repairing the damaged sections if sabotage attacks stop. The Syrian part of the pipeline is virtually ready to operate,’ said Shahristani, who is accompanying Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki on a visit to Syria.

Maliki held talks in Damascus aimed at convincing Syria, which has a 360-km border with Iraq, to stop what Baghdad sees as support for rebels fighting his government. Damascus denies this and says a stable Iraq is in its interest.

An Iraqi official said improved economic ties could help convince Damascus to help the Baghdad government improve security. Shahristani steered clear of describing ways Syria could help stop sabotage attacks.

‘There is mutual desire to rehabilitate the pipeline and resume the export of Iraqi crude oil through Banias,’ he said.

TradeArabia