KIRKUK-YUMARTALIK PIPELINE: TANKS FULL, NO NEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 002445 SIPDIS STATE FOR E, EB/CBED, EB/ESC, EUR/SE, NEA/NGA, OPS CENTER STATE PASS NSC FOR QUANRUD AND BRYZA USDOC FOR 4212/ITA/MAC/OEURA/CPD/DDEFALCO USDOE FOR PUMPHREY/ROSSI E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2013 TAGS: ENRG ECON EPET AJ GG ETTC TU IZ SUBJECT: KIRKUK-YUMARTALIK PIPELINE: TANKS FULL, NO NEW OFF-LOADING REF: ANKARA 1952 Classified by EconCouns Scot Marciel, Reason 1.5 (b,d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para 5. ¶2. (SBU) BOTAS Deputy General Manager Fuat Celepci told econoff April 15 that the oil flow in the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik (Ceyhan) pipeline had stopped completely on April 9, and that no tankers had transported crude from Ceyhan since March 20. Celepci said that the 6.5 million barrel storage tanks at Ceyhan had reached near capacity by the end of March (reftel),but a very small quantity had continued to flow until the pumps were shut down completely on April 9. ¶3. (C) Celepci and MFA DG for Energy Haki Akil both denied recent press reports that Turkey had applied to the U.S. or the U.N. to sell the Iraqi oil in storage at Ceyhan. Celepci noted that marketing of this oil had never been a GOT responsibility. At this stage, he said, the GOT was waiting to see who or what entity would ultimately have the rights to sell the oil. Celepci was not certain whether U.N. workers were still present at Ceyhan, but was following up with his regional manager there. ¶4. (C) Akil asked econoff if the U.S. could provide any information on the future of the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline. He also asked if there was any truth to press reports that the U.S. and the U.K. were supporting a Kirkuk-Haifa oil pipeline, which would pass through Jordan and end in the Haifa Port of Israel. ¶5. (C) Action request: We would appreciate Department's guidance on the questions raised in para 4. PEARSON