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Cabinet officials

Turkey and Iraq Agree on New Energy Cooperation Framework

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Turkey has sent a draft agreement to Iraq outlining a new framework for energy cooperation, which includes partnerships in crude oil and natural gas projects, the development of hydrocarbon fields, and electricity generation and transmission projects. The new agreement aims to replace an existing agreement that expires in July 2026 and has not been utilized to its full capacity. Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, emphasized that the existing agreement is no longer commercially or legally beneficial and that it is essential to work on a new agreement that utilizes the full capacity of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new draft agreement prepared by Turkey and sent to Iraq includes cooperation in crude oil and natural gas projects, the development of hydrocarbon fields, partnerships in petrochemical and refining investments, and electricity generation and transmission projects.
  • The existing agreement between Turkey and Iraq has not been utilized to its full capacity, with the Iraq-Turkey pipeline having a capacity of 1.5 million barrels per day but only operating at approximately 50% capacity.
  • The new agreement aims to utilize the full capacity of the pipeline and avoid legal disputes between the two countries.
  • Turkey is working to increase its electricity exports to Syria, with plans to export 360 megawatts of electricity in the coming weeks and an ultimate goal of exporting an additional 500 megawatts in the coming months.
  • The Turkish Electricity Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, announced that his country's electricity exports to Syria will reach 900 megawatts by the first quarter of next year.
  • The Turkish Minister emphasized the critical importance of infrastructure services, such as energy and water, for the return of normal life in Syria.
  • The Qatar Fund for Development is participating in a project to deliver Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkey, with the pipeline having a capacity of approximately 6 million cubic meters per day.

Statistics:

  • The Iraq-Turkey pipeline has a capacity of 1.5 million barrels per day.
  • The existing agreement between Turkey and Iraq has not been utilized to its full capacity, with the pipeline operating at approximately 50% capacity.
  • Turkey is working to export 360 megawatts of electricity to Syria in the coming weeks and an ultimate goal of exporting an additional 500 megawatts in the coming months.
  • The amount of gas flowing from Azerbaijan to Syria currently amounts to approximately 3.4 million cubic meters per day.
  • The pipeline transporting Azerbaijani gas to Syria has a capacity of approximately 6 million cubic meters per day.
  • The first phase of the gas pipeline project from Azerbaijan via Turkey to Syria includes the supply of approximately 3.4 million cubic meters of gas per day.

Sources:

  • National Iraqi News Agency, August 15, 2025.
  • Sky News (UAE), August 15, 2025 (televised interview with Alparslan Bayraktar).
  • Syrian news agencies (no specific date or publication provided).

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