Israel has lost its top crude supplier, with imports from Iraqi Kurdistan slipping to zero in May due to the closure of the export pipeline from Kurdistan to Turkey’s Ceyhan export terminal since late March (MEES, 31 March).
Iraqi and Kurdish officials are optimistic that this week’s re-election of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will enable the resumption of talks on re-starting pipeline flows. However, even if exports resume in June, Israel is not set to be a destination. Iraqi state marketer Somo has secured oversight over Kurdistan’s exports and does not permit exports to Israel. Unless the 4 April KRG-Baghdad deal collapses amid political headwinds (MEES, 2 June), KRG-Israel oil flows are set to be resigned to history. (CONTINUED - 824 WORDS)
