Iraq’s cabinet has formally approved a package of measures designed to diversify the country’s crude export infrastructure, headlined by the revival of a long-dormant pipeline project linking Iraq to Syria.
The decision marks a significant step in Baghdad’s strategy to reduce its heavy reliance on Gulf export channels and the existing Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which have historically dominated the nation’s oil logistics.
The core of the initiative involves rebuilding the Kirkuk-Baniyas crude oil pipeline, a project that would establish a direct export corridor to the Mediterranean Sea.
This route would allow Iraqi crude to bypass the Strait of Hormuz entirely, offering an alternative pathway for shipments to European and other global markets.
The move comes as Iraq seeks to boost production capacity while mitigating the geopolitical and operational risks associated with its current export dependencies.
The approval follows earlier diplomatic agreements between Iraq and Syria to reconstruct the pipeline, which was damaged during years of regional conflict.