Iraq Signs Contract to Construct Offshore Crude Export Pipeline With 2.4 Million Bpd Capacity

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani witnesses the signing of a deal to establish a subsea oil pipeline for exports via its southern ports (INA) 
Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani witnesses the signing of a deal to establish a subsea oil pipeline for exports via its southern ports (INA) 
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Iraq Signs Contract to Construct Offshore Crude Export Pipeline With 2.4 Million Bpd Capacity

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani witnesses the signing of a deal to establish a subsea oil pipeline for exports via its southern ports (INA) 
Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani witnesses the signing of a deal to establish a subsea oil pipeline for exports via its southern ports (INA) 

The Iraqi Oil Ministry said on Sunday that Baghdad has signed a deal to establish a subsea oil pipeline for exports via its southern ports.

The project is in cooperation with Italian offshore contractor Micoperi and Türkiye’s Esta for a pipeline with capacity of 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd), the ministry said without providing further detail on the destination of the exports.

“The state-owned Basra Oil Company signed a contract on Sunday to implement the third offshore export pipeline project with a consortium of the Italian company MICOPERI and the Turkish company ESTA, with a design capacity estimated at 2.4 million barrels per day,” said the Iraqi news agency quoting a statement by the Ministry.

The statement said it is “an important strategic project and is part of the government's program. It aims to ensure flexibility and stability for crude oil export operations from the southern ports”.

The Ministry also explained that the project’s flexibility lies in the ability to export crude oil from three ports: Basra Port, Khor al-Amaya Port, and the floating platform.

 

 

 

 



China Vows Tougher Action against Smuggling of Strategic Minerals

A woman holds an umbrella to shelter from the sun walks along a street in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A woman holds an umbrella to shelter from the sun walks along a street in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
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China Vows Tougher Action against Smuggling of Strategic Minerals

A woman holds an umbrella to shelter from the sun walks along a street in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
A woman holds an umbrella to shelter from the sun walks along a street in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

China vowed on Saturday to step up a crackdown and toughen law enforcement against smuggling of strategic minerals seen as vital to national security and critical for development.

The remarks by the commerce ministry came a day after the state security ministry accused foreign spy agencies of having tried to "steal" rare earths and pledged to crack down on infiltration and espionage targeting the critical sector.

The world's largest supplier of dozens of strategic minerals, China began imposing export curbs in 2023 on supplies vital to sectors ranging from chipmaking and the energy transition to defense.

The commerce ministry remarks, describing smuggling and export of strategic minerals as a severe problem to be combated, came at a meeting of officials responsible for export control coordination and other government bodies.

"Cases of smuggling by a small number of criminals for their own selfish interests and collusion between domestic and foreign parties are still occurring," it said in a statement.

Evasive methods such as false declarations and third-country transshipment were taking on increasingly covert forms, it added, urging government bodies to prevent illegal outflows of strategic minerals and related technologies.

China has adopted a "zero-tolerance" approach to smuggling and export of strategic minerals, which it will fight with a heavy hand, through special efforts to toughen law enforcement, the ministry said.

In May China said it would strengthen controls on the entire supply chains of strategic mineral exports while tightening its grip on materials deemed crucial to national interest.

Earlier, Beijing launched a special campaign to tackle smuggling of strategic minerals such as gallium, germanium, antimony, tungsten and some rare earths.