Iraq and Syria Reviving Hürmüz Alternative: Kerkük-Banyas Project Backed by US and Chevron

Iraq and Syria have launched efforts to reactivate the Kerkük-Banyas oil pipeline, an approximately 800-kilometer-long route connecting northern Iraqi oil fields to Syria's Banyas Port on the Mediterranean. Built in 1952, the pipeline suffered severe damage during the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War and has been out of service for years. The project aims to reduce Iraq's dependence on the Hürmüz Strait for oil exports and limit Iran's potential influence over the strait. The US Department of State confirmed that the Washington administration supports the pipeline's reconstruction. The US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, Thomas Barrack, has been holding discussions with Iraqi and Syrian officials as well as representatives from US companies, including Chevron. Extensive repairs to pump stations and electrical infrastructure are required for the pipeline to resume operations, with the project expected to take 2-3 years to complete. This strategic move could reshape energy markets and global oil dynamics. With backing from the US and Chevron, the initiative aims to diminish Iran's strategic importance in the Hürmüz Strait. How will this development impact energy markets and global oil dynamics?