Iraq's government revealed a short-term program to substantially increase crude oil exports delivered by pipeline, raising capacity from the current 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 770,000 bpd over the coming two and a half months. The expansion is organized into two separate phases, according to an official government statement.
As part of the same export strategy, Baghdad plans to raise volumes transported by truck to neighboring states, targeting 420,000 bpd. That truck export increase is structured to occur across three phases, the statement said.
The cabinet has also approved a bilateral arrangement with Syria to enable the transport, storage and handling of Basrah Light, Medium and Heavy crude oil through Mediterranean port facilities at Baniyas and Tartous. The approved deal covers the logistics needed to route those Iraqi crude grades through those Syrian ports, the government statement added.
The announced measures form a multi-pronged approach to broaden Iraq's export routes. The two-phase pipeline increase and three-phase truck expansion indicate a staged implementation intended to scale export capability within a relatively short timeframe.
Details in the government statement focus on destination capacity targets and the mechanics of export routing, including the specific reference to Basrah Light, Medium and Heavy grades and the use of Baniyas and Tartous for Mediterranean access. The plan places emphasis on diversifying export corridors and increasing the share of crude that moves over land and through alternative maritime access points.
No additional operational timelines, financing specifics or logistical particulars beyond the phased targets and the cabinet-approved agreement with Syria were provided in the statement.
Summary
Iraq intends to lift pipeline crude exports from 220,000 bpd to 770,000 bpd in two phases within the next two and a half months, increase truck exports to 420,000 bpd in three phases, and has approved a deal with Syria to route Basrah Light, Medium and Heavy crude through the Mediterranean ports of Baniyas and Tartous.