Syrian Transitional Government Clarifies Oil Negotiation Status
On Thursday, the Syrian transitional government officially announced that it has not engaged in any negotiations with Iraq or Saudi Arabia for the import of oil. Furthermore, it clarified that there have been no discussions regarding the operational status of the oil pipeline that has connected the two nations for several years.
According to Ahmed Suleiman, the Director of Public Relations at the Syrian Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources, “Currently, there are no negotiations with Iraq or Saudi Arabia for the import of oil. The Ministry of Oil imports crude oil through public tenders to secure the best possible options, ensuring reliable supplies despite the complex circumstances.”
Suleiman further noted that “the Iraqi-Syrian pipeline requires rehabilitation. To date, we have not addressed this issue.” He indicated that, at present, both Iraqi and Syrian stakeholders have not considered the reactivation of their joint oil infrastructure as a priority.
The pipeline needs substantial investment for rehabilitation, particularly in its Syrian segment, which has suffered extensive damage due to ongoing conflict since 2011. This prolonged instability has severely impacted the energy sector’s infrastructure, resulting in significant destruction.
The Kirkuk-Banias pipeline, an 800-kilometer oil conduit linking the Kirkuk oil field in Iraq to Banias in Syria, boasts a pumping capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. It was inaugurated in April 1952 and has been in operation during intermittent periods. However, it was permanently put out of service in 2010 and has sustained considerable damage from targeted strikes by the international coalition in both Iraq and Syria.
