Türkiye and Iraq Boost Oil Supplies Through Ceyhan

Türkiye Strengthens Its Role as a Regional Energy Hub

🇹🇷 Türkiye and Iraq have agreed to increase oil shipments through Ceyhan as part of a new energy agreement. Under the deal, at least 750,000 barrels of crude oil per day are expected to be transported and loaded at the Ceyhan terminal.

🎯 Iraq’s strategic goal is to increase supplies to Türkiye to 1 million barrels per day.

Ceyhan Could Become an Alternative Oil Route

The agreement is expected to help Türkiye and Iraq make more effective use of the Iraq–Türkiye oil pipeline, which has a technical capacity of approximately 1.5 million barrels per day.

Higher volumes of Iraqi oil could significantly increase the amount of crude reaching Ceyhan. In the longer term, the route could potentially also transport oil from Kuwait and other Gulf countries.

For Türkiye, this would further strengthen its position as an energy corridor connecting oil-producing countries in the Middle East with international markets.

The route is gaining particular importance amid risks surrounding oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Ceyhan could potentially provide an alternative pathway for Middle Eastern oil to reach global markets.

Türkiye and Iraq Expand Energy Cooperation

Energy cooperation between the two countries extends beyond oil transportation. Türkiye is also increasing its participation in Iraqi oil production projects.

Türkiye aims to increase its oil and natural gas production to around 1 million barrels per day in the medium term. Turkish Petroleum Corporation is expected to reach production of approximately 500,000 barrels per day by 2028.

Kirkuk has become one of the key areas of cooperation. Turkish Petroleum Corporation recently acquired a 15% stake in bp Energy Company of Kirkuk Limited, gaining participation in the development of oil fields in the region.

Under the agreement, Turkish Petroleum Corporation, bp and ConocoPhillips will work together to increase production at the Baba and Avana fields, as well as the Bai Hassan, Jambur and Habaz fields.

This means that Türkiye and Iraq’s energy partnership is increasingly covering the entire chain, from oil production and transportation to access to international markets.

Can Supplies Reach 1 Million Barrels per Day?

Experts believe that the technical capacity to reach such a volume exists, although achieving it in the short term could be challenging.

The Iraq–Türkiye pipeline has a technical capacity of approximately 1.5 million barrels per day. According to experts, transporting 1 million barrels per day through the route is technically possible.

The main question is therefore not only the pipeline’s capacity, but also how much oil Iraq can actually direct toward Ceyhan.

Oil from Basra and Kirkuk Could Strengthen the Route

Experts note that the route could potentially carry oil not only from northern Iraq but also from central and southern parts of the country.

Additional volumes could potentially be transported from the Basra region toward Kirkuk and then onward to Ceyhan. The pipeline infrastructure connecting Basra and Kirkuk has a capacity of approximately 1 million barrels per day.

The key factor for increasing supplies will be the available production volume and Iraq’s ability to redirect additional oil toward Ceyhan.

What Does This Mean for Türkiye?

Increasing oil flows through Ceyhan could strengthen Türkiye’s geostrategic position and support its long-term ambition to become one of the region’s major energy centres.

In the event of supply disruptions, Türkiye could have greater opportunities to purchase and store significant volumes of oil while also participating in new energy projects in Iraq.

In the longer term, the potential extends beyond crude oil transit. Türkiye could process incoming crude and export refined fuels and petrochemical products to international markets.

A potential flow of 1 million barrels of Iraqi oil per day could become an important part of Türkiye’s strategy to develop Ceyhan into a major regional energy hub.

Why the Project Matters for the Region

• 🛢️ Iraqi oil supplies to Ceyhan are set to increase.
• 🇹🇷 Türkiye could further strengthen its role as an energy corridor between the Middle East and global markets.
• 🌍 The route could provide an alternative option for oil supplies amid risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
• 🏭 Turkish Petroleum Corporation is expanding its participation in Iraqi oil projects.
• ⛽ In the future, Ceyhan could potentially handle oil from Iraq as well as other Gulf countries.

Türkiye and Iraq are therefore gradually developing a large-scale energy partnership covering production, transportation, processing and exports. If the planned increase in oil supplies is achieved, the importance of Ceyhan for Türkiye’s energy security and the wider region could grow significantly.