Aqaba city in Jordan
Basra-Aqaba pipeline talks hint at conclusion
Nearly 30 years since the original agreement, Iraq’s route to the Red Sea may be in sight
Talks between Iraq and Jordan have reached “advanced stages” for the development of a cross-border oil pipeline that was originally proposed in 1983. According to Iraq’s Ministry of Oil (MoO), technical and commercial details are being ironed out for the 1,600km conduit, “providing that implementation costs are reduced to less than $9bn”. However, with estimates for the project’s construction costs ranging from $12-26bn, reaching this target will require major cost-cutting. Known as the Basra-Aqaba pipeline, the project is intended to carry crude from Iraq’s Rumaila oilfield in the oil-rich Basra governorate to Jordan’s Red Sea port of Aqaba. Under the terms of a 2013 agreement, the project
Also in this section
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
17 March 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress, the world’s premier global energy gathering, planned for 26–30 April 2026, is being rescheduled to take place later in 2026. The new dates will be announced shortly
