Turkish Energy & Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said Monday that they would resume oil flow from the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline within 1-2 days after a blast damaged the pipeline.

Yildiz told reporters, "the blast occurred near Midyat town of the southeastern province of Mardin at around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday. Fire-fighting teams extinguished the fire. We will resume oil flow from the pipeline within 1-2 days."

He said that Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline was one of the most important pipelines with an annual capacity of 70 million tons.

Upon a question about nuclear power plant project, Yildiz said, "I think that the intergovernmental agreement about the nuclear power plants will be brought onto parliamentary agenda this weekend or next week. I believe that all political parties will support it."

The Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline connects the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, carrying crude oil to Turkey.

AA