Turkey is the only secure and feasible route for transfering oil from Iraqi Kurdistan to Europe according to energy experts Anadolu Agency reported.
Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) is expected to have more than 45 billion barrels of oil - the largest untapped oil reserves in the world. The KRG is to export its oil to meet its own energy demand, while becoming a major player in the regional and global energy sector.
Energy experts from Turkey and the KRG told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Turkey emerged as the only viable corridor due to its geographical proximity, stability and security.
"Iran could be alternative to Turkey, if the negotiations between Iran and the US lead to an end of the embargo," Dr. Sardar Aziz, a Kurdish journalist and researcher focused on the KRG oil policy and Turkey-KRG relationship, said.
"The KRG is more inclined to use Turkey, for both political and logistical reasons," Aziz added.
Aziz also pointed to the abundant natural resources in the Kurdish region of Syria, saying Turkey could end up being the only corridor for both the KRG and Syrian Kurdistan once the situation in the country stabilizes.
Energy expert Shwan Zulal noted that the KRG had no other options but Turkey.
"Iraq has the Basra port and is planning to build a pipeline through Jordan to the Red Sea but still in the planning phase. Even if there is an agreement between Baghdad and the KRG...the KRG's oil will flow through that way does not make any sense because of bottlenecks and lack of adequate capacity," Zulal said.
Zulal added, "It is up to Turkey now to decide what to do. If Turkey is willing to have Kurdish crude flowing, it will happen, otherwise the current state of affairs will remain."