Baghdad-SANA– Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad Bashir met in Baghdad on Tuesday with Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy and Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
Bashir highlighted Syria’s need for oil imports and proposed linking oil pipelines between the two countries, noting the old Kirkuk–Baniya’s line has reached the end of its service life. Abdul Ghani expressed Iraq’s interest in reactivating the line and suggested evaluating whether to rehabilitate it or build a new one, citing regional events affecting Iraq’s oil exports.
Syrian Deputy Energy Minister Ghiyath Diab said pumping stations along the route are largely destroyed and require full rehabilitation, adding that restoring the old line alongside building a new one would be economically beneficial. The talks also covered laying optical cables parallel to the oil lines and linking them with Lebanon.
Both sides agreed to form joint technical teams and a main coordination committee, with Diab overseeing the follow-up.
Tuhama al-Saidi -Mananr Salameh
