Bayraktar Energy Minister: Our goal is to open the Kirkuk-Ceyhan line in a short time

Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said his goal is to reactivate the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, one of Iraq’s main crude oil export channels, as soon as possible.

Speaking to TRT Haber, Bayraktar assessed the meeting he had with the Iraqi Energy Minister last week, saying: “We carry out these activities in a very coordinated manner. “Our goal is to put the Iraq-Turkey pipeline into operation as soon as possible,” he said.

Bayraktar stated that after the oil flow stopped, the maintenance works started on the line are coming to an end, “(After the earthquake and the flood) we entered a serious control process on the line. We are at the end of this. We plan to finish. We have finished our maintenance activities in hot spots. Therefore, Turkey will continue to do its part to keep the world oil market balanced and stable, as it has done (in the past).”

WHAT HAPPENED?

Turkey was ordered to pay compensation by the international court of arbitration for having allowed oil extracted from fields under the control of the Iraqi Kurdish regional government to be transported from the pipeline without the authorization of the Iraqi government. Following the decision, Turkey cut off the flow of oil from the line in March at the request of Iraq.

Due to the shortage of supply in the international oil market, it is closely watched when the line will be put into operation. Finally, Iraqi Oil Ministry officials stated that a few more meetings with Ankara might be necessary before the line is opened. (Reuters)