BOTAS SAYS SIX MILLION BARRELS OF IRAQI OIL NOW AT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001346 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/NGA, EUR/SE AND EB E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2014 TAGS: EPET ENRG PREL TU IZ SUBJECT: BOTAS SAYS SIX MILLION BARRELS OF IRAQI OIL NOW AT CEYHAN REF: ANKARA 1019 (U) Classified by EconCounselor Scot Marciel. Reason: 1.4(b,d) (C) BOTAS General Manager Mehmet Bilgic confirmed to us March 5 that Iraq's North Oil Company had been pumping oil through the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline since February 18. Although the volumes were still small, Bilgic called the flow "slow progress in the right direction." He said there are now six million barrels in Ceyhan's oil storage facilities, which have a capacity of 9-10 million barrels. Bilgic said there would be no announcements or press leaks out of BOTAS, EDELMAN