Erdogan Pushes New Energy Partnership with Iraq

Turkey aims to sign a comprehensive energy cooperation agreement with Iraq as soon as possible, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Ankara.

The two countries had been expected to extend the Kirkuk–Ceyhan oil pipeline agreement, which governs oil exports and expired on Monday. However, no extension was signed.

After the leaders signed three cooperation agreements in other areas, Erdogan said both sides intended to deepen their partnership. “The Iraq-Turkey crude oil pipeline agreement ended yesterday. Our aim is to sign a comprehensive energy cooperation agreement that will benefit both sides as soon as possible”, he said.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar later announced on social media platform X that the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) had acquired a 15% stake in BP Energy Company of Kirkuk. The investment gives TPAO a role in developing the Kirkuk oil field, which is estimated to contain more than three billion barrels of oil equivalent.

(Reuters, bak)