Peregraf
Syria and Iraq are exploring the revival of the long-defunct Kirkuk–Baniyas oil pipeline as part of wider efforts to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.
Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad Bashir met in Baghdad on Tuesday with Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy and Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani, where talks focused on Syria’s need for oil imports and options for linking the two countries’ pipeline networks.
Bashir noted that the original Kirkuk–Baniyas line, which once carried Iraqi crude to Syria’s Mediterranean coast, has reached the end of its service life. Abdul Ghani said Iraq was interested in reactivating the route and proposed assessing whether to rehabilitate the old line or construct a new one, citing regional challenges that have disrupted Iraq’s traditional export channels.
Syrian Deputy Energy Minister Ghiyath Diab said most pumping stations along the route are destroyed and require complete reconstruction. He argued that restoring the existing line alongside building a new one could be economically advantageous.
The two sides also discussed laying optical fiber cables parallel to the oil lines, potentially linking the network to Lebanon, and agreed to establish joint technical teams and a main coordination committee, with Diab overseeing follow-up efforts.
Banias has historically served as a key oil export hub on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, particularly when Iraq’s main export routes were hampered by conflict or sanctions. Reopening the link could give Iraq broader access to European markets while diversifying its export infrastructure.