Iraqi Oil Flows to Turkey Still Halted

Commercial and shipping sources revealed to Reuters on Monday that crude oil flows from northern Iraq to the Turkish port of Ceyhan "have not yet resumed," despite Baghdad's request last week for their reinstatement, at a time when the Turkish government is facing a crisis due to elections. Three Iraqi government officials attributed the delay to the elections, stating that the Turkish pipeline operator Botas "is still waiting for confirmation from the government." Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani hoped to resume the flows last Saturday at a rate of 500,000 barrels per day. These flows have been suspended since March 25. One informed source told Reuters that operators in Ceyhan have not even received instructions to prepare for the resumption of pumping.