The ongoing closure of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s pipeline link to Turkey’s Ceyhan terminal is the conclusion to a saga which had already largely displaced Kurdish crude from Europe over the last 12 months. Turkey’s swift enforcement of a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris has prevented some 500,000 b/d of crude exports from northern Iraq (MEES, 31 March).
Prior to the 25 March closure, the pipeline was carrying some 400,000 b/d of Kurdish crude to Ceyhan for onwards export. It was also carrying up to 100,000 b/d of federal crude from the Kirkuk oilfield, most of which was supplied to refineries within Turkey. (CONTINUED - 927 WORDS)
