Antakya (ANTARA) - A Turkish expert has assessed that the delivery of\ncrude oil through Syrian land routes cannot replace the strategic role\nof the Strait of Hormuz due to high project costs, the absence of\ninternational security guarantees, and a lack of corporations willing to\nprovide funding.<\/p>\n
The former Head of Procurement at BOTA (Turkey\u2019s state energy\ncompany), Ali Arif Akturk, believes that the discourse regarding the\ndevelopment or restoration of pipelines crossing Syria ignores technical\nrealities on the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe discussion that land pipelines can replace the Strait of Hormuz\nignores technical realities. Reconstructing and maintaining the\nKirkuk-Baniyas pipeline is estimated to cost up to US$15 billion, which\nis more expensive than building a new route from scratch,\u201d Akturk stated\nin an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti.<\/p>\n
He added that constructing a new pipeline would take four to five\nyears. This timeframe is considered too long given the rapidly changing\ndynamics of conflict in the region.<\/p>\n
According to Akturk, any conflict in the Strait of Hormuz is\nprojected to resolve faster than five years; otherwise, the world would\nundoubtedly face a much larger global economic disaster.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the current security situation in Syria is deemed\nunsuitable for strategic investment, which would ultimately inflate\noperational and security costs for the pipeline.<\/p>\n
\u201cTransnational projects of this nature require international\ncommitment and guarantees from the recipient nation,\u201d Akturk\nemphasised.<\/p>\n
He noted that Syria currently lacks a government with sufficient\nauthority to provide such guarantees. Moreover, no international\nfinancial institution would dare to risk investing billions of dollars\nwithout security certainty.<\/p>\n
He also highlighted the economic aspects of the project, estimating\nthat the cost of oil delivery via Syria would likely be at least twice\nas high compared to the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline route.<\/p>\n
The proposed Syrian pipeline project is also viewed as a direct\ncompetitor to the Kirkuk-Ceyhan route, meaning the Ankara government is\nunlikely to offer its support.<\/p>\n
The discourse regarding the use of Syrian routes emerged after US\nPresident Donald Trump expressed support for making the land route an\nalternative to the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Previously, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that the\nStrait of Hormuz would lose its vital role as a global trade route\nwithin the next two years, transforming into a waterway of \u201cno\nvalue.\u201d<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/turkish-expert-syrian-pipeline-cannot-replace-the-role-of-hormuz-1788577164", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }