Media: Iraq, US, Syria plan to revive Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline

Iraq, the United States and Syria are developing a project to restore operations of the oil pipeline running from Kirkuk in Iraq to the Syrian port of Baniyas, allowing crude supplies to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, Middle East Eye reported, citing sources.

“Sources said that agreements on restarting the pipeline (...) are expected to be announced next week, when Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi meets U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House,” the outlet reported.

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has been working with al-Zaidi on the agreement. Barrack hopes the project will serve as a model for future commercial ventures in the region.

The pipeline, built by the Iraq Petroleum Company, became operational in 1952 and had a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. Iraq shut it down after Syria sided with Iran during the Iran-Iraq War of 1980–1988. The infrastructure was severely damaged following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and is currently non-operational.

The pipeline now requires extensive repairs. One source said it may be preferable to rebuild it entirely, a process that could take two to three years. The source added that a consortium of U.S. companies has already been formed to carry out the repair work.

By Tamilla Hasanova