Positive developments pending in Iraq, FM Fidan outlines

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, appearing before the Turkish Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission on Thursday, specified that positive developments from Iraq are awaiting, especially regarding the reopening of the Kirkuk-Ceylan oil pipeline.

Türkiye-Iraq bilateral developments are expected to have positive mutual ramifications for the regional economy. 

As the Development Road Project in Iraq takes root, running south to north across Iraq and connecting the Persian Gulf with Türkiye and Europe, Fidan specified that it is Baghdad’s decision which border gates are used as well as encouraged Baghdad and Erbil to work on implementation together. 

Kirkuk-Ceylan oil pipeline to reopen 

Another matter of significant importance is the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline connecting Iraq and Türkiye. 

On March 25, 2023, Ankara stopped the flow of oil from the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline after the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) awarded compensation in arbitration for importing oil from the Kurdish Regional Government between 2014 and 2018.

The move occurred without the permission of the Iraqi central government. Baghdad referred to it as illegal. 

The pipeline can pump as much as 350,000 barrels of oil per day to Türkiye. Repairs had been completed in early 2024 to ensure full capacity, yet an agreement on the matter forestalled.  

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani said in June that progress had been made in talks with Kurdish Regional Government officials and representatives of international companies.

Fidan highlighted that it is only a matter of time before the pipeline reopens. Although he did not disclose details of how things were moving forward.