IEA Chief Proposes Iraq-Turkey Pipeline to Bypass Hormuz

Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, has called for the construction of a new oil pipeline connecting Iraq's southern Basra oil fields to the Ceyhan export terminal in Turkey. The proposal seeks to diversify Iraq's export routes and reduce global energy reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, where approximately 90% of Iraq's oil currently transits.

Birol characterizes the project as a strategic necessity to ensure Iraqi export resilience and enhance energy security for European markets, particularly as Iran has imposed erratic restrictions on commercial vessels in the strait. He suggests that current geopolitical dynamics and potential European financial support provide an opportune moment for the project, provided Baghdad and Ankara achieve political alignment.

This initiative aligns with Turkey's ambitions to establish itself as a regional energy transit hub. Ankara is concurrently pursuing other large-scale infrastructure projects, including a rail corridor linking southern Europe with the Persian Gulf and a gas pipeline intended to transport Qatari energy to Europe.