Iraqi officials have said recently that security gains in the western Anbar province could lead to the re-opening of the border with Jordan and breathe life into the stalled project to construct a 1mn b/d oil export pipeline (MEES, 27 November 2015). The Iraqi Oil Ministry says 150,000 b/d would be for Jordan, with the rest for export from Jordan’s Aqaba terminal. The route of the pipeline has been altered to skirt the Saudi border and where possible avoid hotspots in Anbar.

But despite Iraqi Interior Minister Muhammad Salim al-Ghaban visiting the Trebil border crossing on 20 May, there has been precious little movement. (CONTINUED - 465 WORDS)