Lebanese officials met with an Iraqi delegation in Beirut on Monday to discuss reviving the historic Kirkuk-Tripoli oil pipeline, part of a broader effort by Baghdad to secure alternative energy export routes to the Mediterranean.

Chaired by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the high-level meeting brought together key cabinet members, including Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi, as well as customs and security officials.

The talks focused on operational readiness as Lebanon prepares to serve as an initial storage and re-export hub for Iraqi crude oil and refined petroleum products.

The centerpiece of the effort is the rehabilitation of the Kirkuk-Tripoli pipeline. Built between 1932 and 1934, the landmark route originally carried crude from northern Iraq through Syria to Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast, where a refinery was established in 1940 to process incoming shipments.

Saddi recently inspected energy infrastructure linked to preliminary restoration plans aimed at attracting international investment to rebuild the pipeline. In the interim, Lebanese authorities are moving forward with short-term logistical preparations.

Work includes expanding border crossings, upgrading road networks to handle heavy tanker traffic, and establishing strict operating and safety standards at storage facilities.

The push to restore transit through Lebanon aligns with Baghdad’s urgent strategy to diversify its export corridors and reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, following severe disruptions to maritime oil shipments through the waterway since late February.

To further insulate its energy exports from maritime bottlenecks, Iraq has also begun work on the Basra-Haditha pipeline.

Designed to carry up to 2.5 million barrels per day, that system is planned to connect Iraqi oil fields to export terminals in Baniyas, Syria; Ceyhan, Türkiye; and Aqaba, Jordan.

Participating Lebanese ministries and security agencies agreed to maintain tight coordination to meet upcoming deadlines for border, road, and facility upgrades as bilateral preparations continue.