Iraq Pipeline Bombed Despite New U.S. Protection

My Way ^ | 11/17/03

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saboteurs have set an oil pipeline in northern Iraq on fire as a new U.S.-led force was deployed to protect the area's infrastructure, witnesses said Monday. Residents of Burjwari, a village near the Baiji refinery, said a bomb was placed overnight along a northern pipeline section carrying oil. Reuters television footage showed the pipeline on fire.

"We were preparing to break the (Ramadan) fast when we heard an explosion. This was the work of the resistance. We think the pipeline carried liquefied petroleum gas, but we are not sure," Qassem Mohammad said.

Iraq's northern oil infrastructure includes the export pipeline, which runs from its Kirkuk oilfields to Turkey's Mediterranean coast through the Baiji refinery.

The pipeline has been closed since the Iraq war and hit by repeated sabotage. The U.S. Army has said security would be adequately strengthened by November 15 to restart the line.

But a senior Iraqi oil official said the pipeline was not secure enough to restart despite new U.S.-led forces deployed to guard it.

"The oil ministry is working to secure the pipeline to resume production. It is not secure at the moment. Responsibility for the decision lies fully with the oil ministry," the official told Reuters.

The force, dubbed Task Force Shield, is made up of U.S. military personnel, a South African security contractor and local tribes.

Exports revenues from oil sales are vital for U.S. hopes of paying for Iraq's reconstruction. Iraq has been exporting around 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) over the first 10 days of this month from its southern Basra oil terminal.

Baghdad hopes to raise December exports to 1.5 million bpd. Before the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein, Iraq was exporting 2.2 million bpd and the northern pipeline was capable of carrying around 800,000 bpd.