Damascus – Yousef Qablawi, CEO of the Syrian Petroleum Company, said on Tuesday that work on laying an oil pipeline from Iraq to the Syrian Mediterranean coast could begin during the first quarter of 2027, as part of a project aimed at enhancing oil transport routes between the two countries.
The project is entering the engineering design phase.
Speaking at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London, Qablawi explained that the project is currently in the preliminary engineering design phase, while necessary preparations are underway to carry out the associated infrastructure works.
The project is part of plans to reactivate the oil transport route between Iraq and Syria extending to the Mediterranean, thereby providing Iraq with an additional route for crude oil exports that bypasses existing transport routes.
Preparing Baniyas Port to receive crude oil.
The Syrian official added that work is underway to prepare the port of Baniyas to receive Iraqi crude oil, in a manner consistent with the project’s requirements and plans for transporting oil across Syrian territory.
Syria is already playing an increasing role in the transport of Iraqi oil and petroleum products, utilizing the port of Baniyas to receive Iraqi shipments and export a portion of them to foreign markets.
Strategic oil transport pipeline
Over the past few months, Iraq and Syria have discussed projects to rehabilitate and develop oil transport lines between the two countries; Iraqi plans indicate that one of the proposed routes extends from Basra to Haditha before branching off toward Baniyas, with a target capacity of one million barrels per day for the route leading to the Syrian coast.
The project aims to diversify Iraqi oil export outlets and reduce reliance on existing maritime routes, while Syria seeks to strengthen its position as a regional energy transit corridor to the Mediterranean. Rehabilitation work on the Baniyas port facilities and refinery has already begun as part of broader efforts to develop Syria’s energy sector.