The Iraqi and Syrian oil ministers discussed the possibility of transporting Egyptian gas to Iraq through Syria during a meeting in Baghdad, last Thursday.
Iraqi News Agency, INA, reported that the two sides discussed future co-operation and “the extent to which the abundance of Egyptian gas can be utilised and transported across the Syrian territories.”
Syria is connected to Egypt through the Arab Gas pipeline, which stretches across 1,200 kilometres. However, following militant attacks on the infrastructure passing through the Sinai peninsula in Egypt, the pipeline has been used less frequently. With crippling gas shortages caused by conflict, sanctions, and underinvestment, Iraq is forced to rely on imports of gas and electricity from neighbouring countries that are contingent on the United States granting sanctions waivers.
“We have a common vision about the possibility of steering and moving Egyptian gas through Syria land,” a spokesman for the Iraqi oil ministry said.
Israel and Jordan began using the section of the pipeline that passes through their territories last year. Tel Aviv began exporting gas to Amman as part of a gas supply agreement.
While Iraq has been looking for alternatives to importing Iranian gas, relying on Syrian infrastructure may not prove reliant due to conflict in the war-torn country. Last year, a terrorist attack on the Syrian section of the Arab Gas pipeline caused a blackout across the country.
