Iraqi or Caspian oil pipeline to Israel

ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Iraqi or Caspian Sea oil and gas may head to Israel through a multifaceted pipeline from Turkey, Israeli and Turkish energy officials said Tuesday.

“This is a project that will contribute a great deal to regional peace and stability,” Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said to reporters following a meeting with Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Today’s Zaman reports.

The two sides have long been in talks to send oil and gas, as well as other water and a fiber-optic line from Turkey to Israel.

Guler said early feasibility studies have been completed and the cost of project determined, though not announced.

Guler said the two options are extending the pipeline that already sends oil from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Ceyhan, Turkey, or extending the planned Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline.

“This project will contribute not only to Turkey and Israel but also will serve neighboring countries,” Guler said. “It will supply oil, natural gas, water and electricity to them. We talked about the feasibility studies of this project. We are still committed to continuing with the project.”

Iraq’s natural gas sector, once developed, may also be fed into a pipeline and sent to Israel. Azeri gas is also an option, as well as Russian gas.