Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar announced that Ankara has initiated a new agreement process for the Turkey-Iraq Oil Pipeline and will soon sign deals for exploration blocks in Pakistan.
Speaking to Sky News Arabia, Bayraktar outlined Turkey’s energy policies and regional cooperation initiatives.
Gas and Electricity Exports to Syria
Bayraktar said that as of August 2, Turkey had successfully delivered natural gas from Azerbaijan to Syria, describing the initiative as a “humanitarian project.” The process, supported by the Qatar Development Fund, has evolved into a multilateral effort.
Azerbaijan currently supplies 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day, with plans to increase the pipeline’s capacity to 6 million cubic meters. This expanded capacity could enable the production of approximately 1,200 megawatts of electricity in Aleppo and Homs—enough to power 5 million households, he said.
Turkey is already exporting 281 megawatts of electricity to Syria through eight different connection points. Bayraktar said the figure will soon rise to 360 megawatts, and eventually to 900 megawatts with additional investment.
Oil and Infrastructure Investments
Highlighting the importance of modernizing Syria’s oil infrastructure, Bayraktar said this could be achieved with contributions from Turkey and international oil companies, helping to meet sustainable energy and basic infrastructure needs.
Turkey-Iraq Oil Pipeline
Bayraktar noted that the Turkey-Iraq Oil Pipeline, which has a daily capacity of 1.5 million barrels, has not been fully utilized for half a century.
He said Ankara has informed the Iraqi government that the current agreement no longer meets today’s energy needs, has presented a new draft proposal, and will soon begin negotiations. The aim, he stressed, is to operate the pipeline at full capacity.
New Deals in Pakistan
Bayraktar underlined that Turkey is focusing not only on domestic production but also on overseas opportunities. In addition to projects in Azerbaijan and Iraq, Turkey is active in Libya, Niger, and Somalia.
A seismic vessel is currently operating off the coast of Somalia, he said, adding that agreements for previously awarded oil and gas exploration blocks in Pakistan will be signed soon. He also noted that a recent deal with Libya’s government has opened new exploration prospects.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök