Iraq considers oil pipeline to Jordan’s Aqaba amid Hormuz closure

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The spokesperson for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Saheb Bazoun, said that the Iraq-Jordan pipeline project to the port of Aqaba has substantial capacity, but it has yet to be operational. In a statement to Iraq’s official newspaper al-Sabah, Bazoun indicated that long-term plans are being developed to expand the country’s oil export network and establish new outlets that benefit the national economy. Bazoun’s remarks took place as Baghdad strives to limit the risks associated with regional tensions, given the challenges related to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, making diversifying export routes a major concern. The project is part of the Iraqi government’s effort to boost the energy sector by decreasing pressure on southern ports, which serve as the primary outlet for oil exports, in light of the need for safer alternatives. In early April, the Iraqi cabinet authorized the Oil Ministry to directly invite specialized companies to submit proposals for the Basra-Haditha oil pipeline project, which would then extend out toward the Jordanian port of Aqaba, offering a direct route to the Red Sea and European markets. According to reports, the project is an Iraqi venture estimated at $4.6 billion aiming to transport crude oil from the southern Iraqi province of Basra to Haditha in the western province of Anbar. The pipeline’s capacity is projected to be approximately 2.25 million barrels per day using 56-inch diameter pipes. This design aims to enhance domestic transportation and establish connections to future export facilities. In late March, Anbar Provincial Council member Adnan al-Kubaisi said that the Iraqi parliament may take action in the near future to push the government to construct the Haditha-Aqaba pipeline project, given its strategic importance in diversifying oil export channels. Although supported by the current government, the project continues to encounter problems related to political and infrastructural constraints. The pipeline project falls within the broader scope of Iraqi infrastructure rehabilitation strategies, which play an important role in enhancing Iraq’s oil export capability. The post Iraq considers oil pipeline to Jordan’s Aqaba amid Hormuz closure appeared first on Iraqi News.