ANKARA, 29 July. - (ANA) - Turkey is willing to sign ⁠a comprehensive energy co-operation deal with Iraq "as soon as ​possible", President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi in Ankara on Tuesday.

 

"The Iraq-Turkey crude oil pipeline agreement ended yesterday," Mr Erdogan said alongside Mr Al Zaidi. "Our ​aim is to sign a ‌comprehensive energy co-operation agreement ⁠that will benefit both sides."

 

It was expected that the two sides would sign a temporary deal to extend the decades-old pipeline agreement, which governs exports through the pipeline and officially expired on Monday.

 

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar held talks in Baghdad this month with Mr Al Zaidi and Iraqi Oil Minister Bassim Al Abadi, and announced that the two countries were set to sign a 12-month deal “in the coming days”.

 

Energy was expected to dominate the agenda during the meeting between Mr Al Zaidi and Mr Erdogan. Turkey remains Iraq’s most important outlet to global markets, with the Iraq-Turkey pipeline from Kirkuk to Ceyhan historically carrying a significant share of Iraqi exports.

 

The 970km pipeline has operated on and off since the 1970s and remains central to Iraq’s plans to raise production and diversify export routes away from the Strait of Hormuz. There has been no clarification from either side.

 

Mr Erdogan also said Turkey's ‌state-owned oil and gas company TPAO would operate in the ​Kirkuk oilfield that is being developed by BP.

 

In a statement ​on ‌X, Mr Bayraktar said TPAO had acquired ⁠a 15 per cent stake in BP Energy Company of Kirkuk ⁠Limited (BPECKL), adding that this would allow the Turkish company to operate in the field.

 

"It will work together with BPECKL partners to bring the approximately 3 billion barrel ​reserve potential into production," he said.

 

BP confirmed the deal and said it welcomed the partnership with TPAO.

 

Bilateral trade exceeded $20 billion in 2024, making Turkey one of Iraq’s top trading partners. Turkish construction companies are among the largest foreign contractors in Iraq, working on housing, roads, hospitals and industrial zones, particularly in northern and central provinces. - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/29 July 2026 - - -