Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Khudair and Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey. Photo: Iraqi Oil Ministry
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Khudair and Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar met in Turkey to finalize a deal for oil flows between Iraq and Turkey through the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.
Khudair stated on Saturday that the meeting was highly constructive, with discussions centered on increasing export capacity through Ceyhan and Turkish firms’ participation in Iraqi oil and gas projects.
The involvement of Turkish companies in Iraq’s energy sector is critical to the governments of both countries, particularly the Iraqi government, according to Khudair. He noted that the step helps attract competent global corporations to develop Iraq’s oil and gas resources.
The Iraqi oil minister indicated that two joint technical committees have been formed to develop oilfields and construct oil facility infrastructure.
Khudair arrived in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Friday to discuss cooperation in the fields of oil, gas, and energy.
Khudair signed an agreement with Turkey in early August to transport Iraqi crude oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline to the port of Ceyhan. The deal stipulates a minimum volume of 750,000 barrels per day for a one-year period, pending the completion of a broader framework agreement.
At the time, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi declared that Iraqi and Turkish enterprises will begin executing the deal to transport crude oil to Ceyhan via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.
Al-Zaidi said that Baghdad and Ankara were working to finalize a framework deal for the oil, electricity, and water resources sectors.