Iraq and Syria Move to Revive Cross-Border Oil Pipeline, Aiming to Redefine Export Routes
Iraq and Syria are advancing plans to restore a long-dormant cross-border oil pipeline, according to recent reports. The project would enable crude oil from northern Iraqi fields to be shipped directly via Syria's Mediterranean ports, creating an export corridor that bypasses the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
A Historic Pipeline with a New Strategic Role
Originally built in 1952, the pipeline stretches approximately 800 kilometers from Kirkuk in Iraq to the port of Baniyas in Syria. At its peak, it had a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. However, decades of conflict, including the Iran-Iraq War and the Iraq War, left the infrastructure heavily damaged and inoperative.
Sources indicate that rehabilitation will be a major undertaking. Critical components such as pumping stations and power systems require extensive overhauls, with estimates suggesting the repair work could take two to three years to complete.
Geopolitical and Economic Drivers
Discussions around reviving the pipeline have gained momentum. The U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, who also serves as Ambassador to Turkey, has held talks with officials from both countries and related companies to explore the project's feasibility.
For Iraq, the pipeline offers a strategic alternative. Currently, the vast majority of Iraqi oil exports must transit the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint long seen as a vulnerability due to regional tensions.
- Enhanced Energy Security: Diversifying export routes reduces reliance on a single maritime passage.
- Potential Cost Efficiency: Overland pipeline transport could prove more economical than lengthy sea voyages around the Arabian Peninsula.
- Regional Cooperation: The project signals a step toward post-conflict economic collaboration between the two neighbors.
If successfully implemented, the pipeline could reshape Iraq's export dynamics and influence energy flows and geopolitical alignments in the Eastern Mediterranean region.