Iraq unveils dual pipeline plan to Faysh Khabur and Baniyas via Chevron
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced on Monday, August 10, 2026, plans to construct a major new pipeline network featuring two strategic export routes toward Faysh Khabur and the Syrian port of Baniyas. The infrastructure push aims to diversify Iraq’s crude oil export outlets beyond its primary southern Gulf terminals.
Deputy Oil Minister for Extraction Affairs, Nseer Aziz, chaired an executive planning meeting to establish implementation frameworks for the multi-billion-dollar project. Discussions centered on finalizing investment mechanics under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model with a consortium of global energy firms including UCC, TI Capital, and Chevron.
Key Infrastructure & Project Details
- Dual Export Corridors:
- Route 1:Basra – Haditha – Faysh Khabur (connecting southern oilfields to northern export infrastructure near the Turkish border).
- Route 2:Haditha – Baniyas (reactivating the strategic Mediterranean export route across Syria).
- Investment Model: To be executed under a BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) framework in partnership with international consortium partners Chevron, UCC, and TI Capital.
- Inter-Agency Coordination: Attended by leadership from Basra Oil Company (BOC), North Oil Company (NOC), Missan Oil Company (MOC), state oil marketer SOMO, and the Ministry’s Studies and Planning Directorate.
- Syrian Transit Agreement: Follows a U.S.-sponsored Memorandum of Understanding signed between Iraq and Syria on July 17, 2026, to reactivate the historic Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline corridor.
The dual-pipeline initiative marks a decisive effort by Baghdad to reduce its reliance on southern Gulf ports following severe disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
By linking Basra’s southern production hubs directly to northern transit corridors at Faysh Khabur and Mediterranean terminals at Baniyas, Iraq aims to secure uninterrupted crude flows to global markets, lower war-risk freight costs, and enhance long-term energy marketing flexibility.