US, Iraq discuss Iraq-Türkiye oil pipeline

The Iraqi delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Mohammed Tamim, and the US delegation led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, co-chaired a meeting of the Higher Coordinating Committee in accordance with the 2008 US-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement. 

The two sides reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral partnership and Iraq’s critical role in regional security and prosperity.  The delegations expressed the desire to expand the depth and breadth of the relationship between the two countries, including in the areas of energy independence, financial reform, services for the Iraqi people, strengthening democracy and the rule of law, and enhancing educational and cultural relations, Caliber.Az reports citing US Department of State.

The US and Iraqi delegations shared the view that Iraq has the potential to harness immense natural gas resources, invest in new energy infrastructure and renewables, and achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2030.  The United States commended Iraq for its progress on gas capture and work on commercializing associated gases.  Significant gas potential in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) is a key component of Iraq’s energy security, as is increased private sector investment. To allow Iraq to benefit from the US private sector’s leading technology and expertise, the United States and Iraq announced the signing of new memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to capture and process flared gas and turn it into usable electricity for the Iraqi people.  Also, the two sides stressed the importance of resuming oil exports via the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline (ITP).

The United States commended Iraq for its considerable work on increasing regional connectivity, particularly in energy interconnections with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.  After years of work to build its interconnection with Jordan, Iraq is receiving 40 megawatts of electricity for the Iraqi people; future phases would increase capacity to 900 megawatts.  Iraq affirmed that enhanced ties based on shared mutual interests with neighbors are essential to domestic prosperity.  Iraq and the United States discussed Iraq’s interest in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including emerging nuclear technologies.