Iraq and Turkey Discuss Energy Cooperation Ahead of Oil Pipeline Agreement Expiry

Turkish Energy Minister Alb Arslan Bayraktar held talks with Iraqi officials from the Ministries of Oil and Foreign Affairs to explore ways to strengthen collaboration in the energy sector, focusing on the oil pipeline running from Kirkuk to Ceyhan.

The existing agreement governing the operation of this pipeline, which has been in place for decades and regulates oil exports via this route, is set to expire on July 27. Meanwhile, Baghdad and Ankara continue negotiations over a draft for a new agreement.

The Iraqi delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bahr al-Uloom, Deputy Oil Minister Nasser Aziz Jabbar, and Iraq’s ambassador to Ankara, Majid al-Lijmawi.

Bayraktar stated in a post on the X platform that Turkey aims to enhance cooperation with the new Iraqi government to utilize the current energy infrastructure more efficiently and develop new connections to support the system.

Last month, Baghdad requested an extension of the current agreement for at least one year to allow more time for negotiations. However, Ankara has shown no interest in extending the agreement under the present circumstances.