Gasoline shipments that arrived in Syrian territory have begun their overland transport towards Iraq, according to statements by Engineer Tareq Shalash, Deputy Head of the Syrian Petroleum Company for Refining and Chemical Industries. This move establishes a two-way energy corridor,
utilizing a land route previously used by Baghdad for fuel exports, especially after the cessation of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq had resorted to using the Syrian route after regional developments impacted the traditional path through the Strait of
Hormuz. Baghdad had previously stated its plans to rely on alternative routes via Syria, even if navigation through the strait returned to normal. Information indicates that the transfer of fuel oil from Iraq was limited to Syrian ports before the
activation of this two-way route. Shalash confirmed that the first shipment destined for Iraq, estimated at approximately 32,800 tons of gasoline, arrived aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker "Avanti." This shipment was offloaded at the Baniyas refinery storage facilities in Syria
before being loaded onto trucks this week. He added that 77 trucks had already departed from Baniyas heading towards the Iraqi border, noting that loading operations are ongoing, with expectations of more shipments to arrive. He emphasized that this gasoline
was neither produced in Syria nor drawn from local Syrian market reserves. This operation is being carried out under a transport contract between the Syrian Petroleum Company and UCC Holding, headquartered in Qatar. Shalash stated that UCC is the supplier and
supervisor of the transport operation. In a comment, the spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, Salim Al-Rikabi, clarified that an agreement was signed between the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) and a Qatari company to provide Iraq with enhanced gasoline
supplies. Al-Rikabi indicated that these supplies would arrive via the Syrian port of Baniyas by land tankers, confirming that regular receipt of shipments has already commenced. Shipping data revealed that another Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, the "Jiaita," loaded gasoline from the US
port of Houston before sailing to Baniyas to discharge its cargo. Previous information in July had indicated that Iraqi fuel oil reached the United States for the first time after being transported overland to Baniyas and then shipped by sea. Shalash
concluded his remarks by noting that the current transport contract is limited to gasoline, but he did not rule out the possibility of expanding the use of this route in the future to include other petroleum products, crude oil, or
other commodities under subsequent agreements.
