Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt advance Basra–Haditha pipeline and petrochemical talks

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The tripartite cooperation team comprising Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt convened on Sunday, November 1, 2026, to examine the technical, engineering, and operational specifications of the strategic Basra–Haditha crude oil export pipeline, alongside joint ventures across petroleum refining, petrochemicals, and renewable energy. According to a Ministry of Oil statement, Ali Warid Hammoud, Director General of the Oil Projects Company (SCOP), chaired the second virtual session of the Iraqi working team monitoring projects sponsored under the Iraqi-Jordanian-Egyptian Trilateral Coordination Council. The deliberations focused extensively on the engineering parameters of the Basra–Haditha pipeline corridor, assessing pipeline diameters, throughput capacity, and targeted transit volumes for domestic distribution and export routing. The meeting detailed route alignments, interconnecting branches, and logistical integration frameworks designed to serve tripartite energy security. The Iraqi delegation provided comprehensive technical clarifications addressing inquiries submitted by Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts regarding pipeline hookups and flow economics. The trilateral agenda also covered the development of a joint petrochemical complex, assessing feedstock allocations of crude oil, intermediate petroleum cuts, and industrial raw materials required to sustain the downstream hub. Discussions further evaluated the construction of strategic storage depots, refining expansion plans, and the creation of alternative Iraqi export outlets opening onto the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Basin. Participants reviewed several industrial initiatives proposed by the Egyptian delegation, including delayed coking unit projects, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facilities, and potential EPC engagements by specialized Egyptian petroleum firms. The delegations also explored joint technological cooperation in clean hydrogen generation. Hammoud emphasized the necessity of maintaining regular technical coordination and data-sharing among relevant ministries across Baghdad, Amman, and Cairo to expedite feasibility evaluations, address technical parameters, and transition cross-border infrastructure initiatives from planning frameworks into operational implementation. The virtual session included the Director General of the Studies, Planning, and Follow-up Directorate, alongside delegates from the Ministry of Oil, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, and their respective Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts.