Iraq revives Syria oil pipeline plan to diversify export routes

Iraq is reviving plans to build a new oil pipeline through Syria to the Mediterranean Sea as part of a series of measures aimed at diversifying its crude export routes away from the Strait of Hormuz.

The country’s cabinet approved a flurry of oil and gas sector decisions over the weekend, including signing a memorandum of understanding with Syria to move forward with the oil pipeline, The National reports.

The project would provide Iraq with a second direct Mediterranean export route, reducing its reliance on Gulf shipping lanes and the disruption-prone Iraq-Turkey pipeline.

Syria has emerged as a key energy transit route for Iraq, with daily truck shipments rising from 10 to 1,000 and 2.1 million tonnes of Iraqi fuel oil transported to Europe since April.

Iraq is also exploring Lebanon as an alternative transit route.