Iraq has completed more than half a $17-billion project to build a rail line stretching from the Southern oil-hub of Basra to the Northern border with Turkey, an official has said.

Dubbed “The Development Road” the project involves the construction of a 1,200-km rail and a motorway for passenger and freight services from the OPEC producer to Turkey and most of the European continent.

“We have completed 66% of the designs of the rail project and 52% of the motorway design,” said Maytham Safi, Information Director at the Transport Ministry.

Officials said in early 2024 the project would be completed within 3 years after the Faw Port, one of the world’s largest container terminals, is commissioned.

(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@lseg.com)

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