Against the backdrop of a continuously evolving Middle Eastern energy landscape, Turkey and Iraq are accelerating multiple energy cooperation initiatives.Recently, a senior Turkish energy official revealed that Turkey is actively promoting energy cooperation with Iraq, with particular focus on the resumption of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline. It also plans to expand cooperation in areas such as natural gas and electricity to create a regional energy corridor.

On September 6, the Turkish Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, in an interview at the Baghdad International Energy Forum, stated that the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline has been in operation since the 1970s, and recent discussions about resuming oil transportation have resurfaced. Turkey is closely following up on this matter with Iraq.He further revealed that the Iraqi side had informed them that the relevant negotiations between international oil companies, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and the central government in Baghdad were nearing completion, "hopefully these issues will be resolved, and we expect the pipeline to operate at full capacity."

In addition to the oil pipeline, he emphasized that Turkish-Iraqi energy cooperation could be advanced from a broader perspective – the two countries are also currently negotiating cooperation on natural gas and electricity, as well as incorporating road projects into the construction of an energy corridor. He pointed out that "Iraq's energy potential is much higher than in the past," and both sides are simultaneously advancing the construction of necessary infrastructure.If this cooperation proceeds smoothly, it will not only significantly enhance the energy export capabilities and economic complementarity of both countries, but also help stabilize regional energy supply and further promote Turkey's role as a vital energy hub connecting East and West. However, against the backdrop of intertwined interests, whether this energy corridor can be fully realized still depends on internal negotiations and the continued evolution of the geopolitical environment. Editor/Xu Shengpeng