Iraq Activates Emergency Oil Export Plans Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions
Iraq’s Oil Minister, Hayyan Abdul Ghani, confirmed on Thursday that the government has prepared detailed contingency plans to manage the ongoing situation in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating regional tensions.
In an interview with the official Iraqi News Channel, Abdul Ghani emphasized that oil exports remain the backbone of Iraq’s economy, accounting for nearly 90 percent of the country’s revenues.
“Oil exports constitute 90 percent of Iraq’s revenues, and the ministry has decided to continue crude oil production at a level of 1.4 million barrels per day,” the minister stated.
He added that domestic energy supplies remain stable, with refineries across the country operating at full capacity to meet local demand.
“Refineries are operating at full capacity to meet domestic requirements, and sufficient quantities of liquefied gas are available to fully satisfy domestic demand,” Abdul Ghani said.
Despite the steady domestic supply, the minister confirmed that oil exports from Iraq’s southern ports have been temporarily halted due to the ongoing regional situation. The disruption has forced Iraqi authorities to seek alternative routes to maintain crude shipments.
“Exports from the southern ports have ceased, prompting us to search for possible alternatives for crude oil exports,” he explained.
According to Abdul Ghani, Iraq is close to finalizing an agreement that would allow crude oil exports to resume through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The route could help sustain a portion of Iraq’s exports despite the disruption in Gulf shipping lanes.
In addition, the ministry has activated an emergency logistics plan to transport approximately 200,000 barrels of oil per day by tanker trucks through neighboring countries, including Turkey, Syria, and Jordan.
Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani dismissed reports claiming that Iraqi vessels were involved in a recent maritime attack in the region. He clarified that the ships targeted were not Iraqi tankers and were transporting naphtha, a petroleum product used in petrochemical production.
