Turkey, Iraq ink one-year deal to operate Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline at full capacity
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Turkey and Iraq signed a one-year agreement on August 1, 2026, to operate the Kirkuk-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline at full capacity. Turkish state pipeline operator BOTAŞ and Iraq’s SOMO and NOC will manage the 750,000 barrel-per-day link under the deal, ensuring secure shipments to global markets via Ceyhan. The signing marks a step toward longer-term energy cooperation between the two neighbors.
The Deal
Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Muhammed Hüdeyir oversaw the signing in Ankara, Bayraktar announced on X. The one-year agreement covers the effective use of the Iraq–Turkey crude pipeline and was signed by BOTAŞ with Iraq’s state oil marketing company SOMO and North Oil Company NOC. It takes effect immediately, replacing previous ad hoc arrangements.
Pipeline Capacity
The Kirkuk-Ceyhan link has served as a strategic energy corridor for nearly 50 years, with a design capacity of 750,000 barrels per day. Operation has been intermittent in recent years due to political and contractual disputes, leaving throughput well below potential. The new deal aims to restore reliable, uninterrupted flows from northern Iraq to the Mediterranean, reinforcing regional supply security.
Long-Term Vision
Beyond the one-year pact, Bayraktar said both countries are working on a comprehensive, long-term agreement to fully utilize the pipeline. He emphasized the goal of routing not just Iraqi but broader regional energy resources through Ceyhan, calling the infrastructure 'more strategic than ever' for global supply security. The announcement comes amid volatile oil markets and shifting trade routes.
What's Next
Negotiations for the broader framework are ongoing, with no timeline set for completion. It remains unclear whether unresolved issues with the Kurdistan Regional Government over revenue sharing will be addressed in future talks.
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Turkey, Iraq ink one-year deal to operate Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline at full capacity
