“ Pumping crude oil from Kurdistan Iraq through a new pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan started at a rate of 300 000 barrels per day ," noting that " it will increase gradually to 400 thousand barrels per day ,” Turkish Energy Minister said in a press statement briefed by " Shafaq News”.

The Turkish energy minister said earlier at a news conference in Ankara that oil began pumping through the pipeline , but " it will not be exported to world markets without the approval of the Iraqi central government in Baghdad."