TIL Desk/World/Baghdad/ Iraq has invited companies to submit statements of interest in building a new pipeline from the northern city of Kirkuk to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. The new 350-kilometer pipeline will carry up to one million barrels a day, the state-run Oil Projects Company said.
A 305-kilometer gas pipeline to feed pumping stations, tanks and other service installations will be included in the project, it said. The new line will be built alongside an existing 1.6 million barrel-per-day pipeline, which runs through restive Sunni areas and has been idle since it was badly damaged by militant attacks in 2014.
Iraqi forces drove the Islamic State group from the area earlier this year, but the militants are expected to continue to launch insurgent-style attacks.Interested companies have until January 24 to submit applications for pre-qualification before receiving the final tender documents.
Authorities did not provide a timeline for the project, which will be offered under a build-own-operate-transfer scheme. At least 25 per cent of the project will be owned by Iraqi entities. Iraqi forces seized the disputed city of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces in October.
