Iraq moves to study new oil export pipelines

Iraq's cabinet has approved Basra Oil Company signing a heads of agreement and a non-disclosure agreement with an international consortium to study strategic oil export pipeline projects. The approvals formalise the start of structured feasibility work on new export options for Iraqi crude. The measures focus on preparing and protecting information sharing for the study phase.

The heads of agreement provides a framework for how the parties will cooperate during the studies, while the non-disclosure agreement is intended to safeguard commercially sensitive data. These steps create the legal and procedural basis for the consortium and Basra Oil Company to evaluate potential routes and technical solutions.

The consortium engaged for the studies includes U.S. firms Capital TI and Chevron (CVX), along with Qatar's UCC. Their participation links Iraq's state oil sector with international partners that have experience in large-scale energy and infrastructure projects. Within the framework set by the cabinet approvals, the consortium is tasked with carrying out detailed studies on possible export routes.

By bringing together companies from the United States and Qatar with Basra Oil Company, the initiative combines local operational knowledge with external technical and project expertise. The study mandate centres on identifying technically and commercially viable options for expanding or reconfiguring Iraq's oil export infrastructure.

A key route under examination is a corridor linking Basra, Haditha, Kirkuk and the Turkish port of Ceyhan. Assessing this corridor will involve reviewing potential pipeline alignments, capacity options and integration with existing infrastructure. The route would connect production areas in southern and northern Iraq with a major export terminal on the Mediterranean.

The studies are expected to evaluate how such a corridor could function within Iraq's broader export system, including technical challenges and logistical interfaces. The focus at this stage remains on analysis and concept development, rather than on construction or financing commitments.

The approved agreements are described as preliminary and limited to the study phase of the projects. They are aimed at clarifying the feasibility, design options and potential configurations of strategic export pipelines. No timelines or implementation details are specified in the available information.

Positioning the work at an early stage allows the Iraqi authorities and their partners to test different scenarios before any binding development decisions are made. The outcome of these studies will help define whether, and in what form, new export corridors such as the Basra–Haditha–Kirkuk–Ceyhan route may proceed to later phases.