Iraq and Syria discussed reviving the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline between the two countries on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office.
The talks came during a meeting in Baghdad between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir, reports Anadolu Agency.
According to the statement, Tuesday’s meeting “reviewed the prospects for bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in various fields, particularly in the energy sector, in a manner that serves the interests of both brotherly peoples.”
They also discussed “the possibility of reviving the Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline, in light of the formation of a joint technical committee to assess the condition of the pipeline and explore options for its rehabilitation, as one of the projects planned by the government in its efforts to diversify export outlets.”
The Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline was built in 1952 to transport crude oil from Kirkuk’s oil fields in Iraq to the Syrian port of Baniyas on the Mediterranean Sea. It subsequently went out of service multiple times, the last time in 2003, after sustaining severe damage during the US invasion of Iraq. It has not been repaired or operated since.
The meeting also touched on “joint opportunities to advance oil and petrochemical industries projects on the Mediterranean coast, as well as opportunities for coordination to address climate change and regulate water shares in the Euphrates River Basin.”
Al-Bashir arrived in Baghdad earlier on Tuesday for a visit of unspecified duration, during which he is scheduled to meet officials to discuss cooperation in areas including energy and water resources projects.