2026-04-01T09:00:21+00:00

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Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq is turning to overland shipments through Syria to move
fuel oil abroad, easing pressure on its energy system and limited export
options, an oil expert told Shafaq News on Wednesday.

Asim Jihad, former spokesperson for the Oil Ministry,
described the shipments as a temporary workaround rather than a lasting
alternative to Iraq’s export routes, stressing that transporting fuel by tanker
trucks remains costly, complex, and far less efficient than pipelines or
maritime shipping.

Iraq’s export system faces multiple constraints, including
limited capacity on its northern pipeline, the shutdown of some export outlets,
and growing pressure on refineries as fuel oil production rises. In older
facilities, fuel oil can account for more than 40% of output, compounding
storage and processing challenges.

Pointing to rising logistical and financial burdens tied to
road transport —which requires a large fleet of tanker trucks and adds
operational complexity— Jihad warned that continued accumulation of fuel oil
and delays in processing naphtha could compel some refining units to scale back
or suspend operations, affecting domestic output.

According to the latest figures released by the State Oil
Marketing Organization (SOMO), Baghdad will move 650,000 metric tons of fuel
oil per month through Syria during April, May, and June, equivalent to roughly
4.85 million barrels monthly —about one day of Iraq’s crude oil production.

Earlier this week, Iraq began routing shipments through the
Al-Waleed border crossing with Syria, with 101 tanker trucks heading toward the
port of Baniyas carrying around 3.2 million liters. The shift comes as regional
tensions fuel concerns over potential disruptions to maritime routes through
the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iraq to explore limited overland alternatives
to maintain export flows.

Read more: Iraq’s energy vulnerability: When a petro-state has no buffer