Iraq seeks to reopen Syria pipeline

 

Azzaman, March 6, 2007

 

The Ministry of Oil is keen to diversify export outlets and is considering the possibility of reopening the pipeline via Syria.

 

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahrastani said both countries were “keen to reactivate the pipeline for the transfer of crude oil via Syrian territories.”

 

But he said no agreement has been reached yet because the pipeline itself is in need of rehabilitation.

 

The pipeline has been idle since the U.S. invasion and was only reopened for the export of limited amounts of crude in the two years before the overthrow of the former leader Saddam Hussein.

 

“The repair of the pipeline is a complicated process because no oil has been flowing through it for a long time,” the minister said.

 

“The pipeline’s rehabilitation,” the minister said, “will need many requirements which will have to be met by both sides.”

 

But Shahrastani said before talk of a resumption of exports via Syria or repair of the pipeline the security situation has to be dealt with first.

 

He said the pipeline was already target of acts of sabotage inside Iraqi territory.

 

“It is important for the Syrian side to prevent the infiltration of saboteurs from its territories who target Iraqis and Iraq’s vital installations namely pipelines and oil projects,” Shahrastani said.