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Türkiye is looking to turn the Development Road into an energy corridor carrying Iraqi oil and potentially Qatari natural gas to Türkiye and Europe, a project that could generate about $80 billion a year in economic value, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
"Türkiye is determined to build the Development Road not only as a transport corridor but also as a strategic ‘energy route’ supported by oil, natural gas, and electricity transmission lines along the route," Bayraktar said in his remarks to state-run Anadolu Agency after Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudair and his delegation visited Ankara last week.
Bayraktar said directing roughly 40%-50% of production from Iraq and Kuwait through the corridor could bring its capacity to 2.5 million barrels a day. At that level, the oil flows would carry an estimated economic value of about $65 billion-$70 billion a year.
Bayraktar said the corridor could also open a route for Qatari natural gas to Türkiye and Europe, reducing reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar sends most of its gas exports as liquefied natural gas (LNG), making the waterway an important part of its existing export route.
Under the proposal, Qatari gas could travel through Iraq and into Türkiye, with some of the supply staying in the Turkish market and the remainder moving on to Europe.
Bayraktar also highlighted plans to strengthen the role of the Kerkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline as an alternative route for Gulf energy supplies.
Extending the pipeline to Basra and increasing its capacity could provide a stronger alternative to the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz at a time when energy security has become increasingly critical, he asserted.
Türkiye is also looking to expand TPAO's role in Iraq beyond its newly acquired 15% stake in BP's Kirkuk operations, with Bayraktar indicating the state-owned company aims to become active in other Iraqi oil fields as well.
"Working closely with the new Iraqi government, we will continue strongly implementing concrete projects," Bayraktar said.
"We aim to reach the target of supplying 1 million barrels of crude oil, as expressed by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeydi, and to turn Ceyhan into a global energy hub by increasing trade volume."
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