Iraq Oil Export Pipeline Hit by Bombing

Reuters ^ | 7/8/2003 | Michael Georgy

[a_Turk]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s northern export pipeline via Turkey was damaged by a new sabotage blast over the weekend in another setback for Baghdad's battered oil sector, a senior Iraqi oil ministry official said on Tuesday.

The official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters Iraq was also facing what he called widespread "economic sabotage" along a pipeline from Iraq's southern oilfields.

"The Iraq-Turkey pipeline was sabotaged 36 hours ago," he said.

"It will take two weeks to repair if there are no new explosions and we still have several damaged areas on the pipeline that are still to be repaired from earlier explosions."

The bombing of the line from the Kirkuk oilfields to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan delivers a further blow to Iraqi hopes of raising crude exports, crucial to funding rebuilding.

The country has been hit by a series of pipeline blasts since the end of the war that ousted president Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and has yet to reopen the Kirkuk line.

"What we know is the saboteurs are digging in the sand beneath the pipelines and planting bombs," said the official.

The attacks have suppressed oil supplies with the only exports so far from crude held in storage at export terminals since before the war began.

In July Baghdad is planning to sell only eight million barrels, all from its southern fields, at a rate for the month of just 260,000 bpd. Before the war it was selling two million barrels daily.

The Iraqi official also said oil was being stolen and sold on the black market from a pipeline that carries crude from its southern fields to Baghdad.

"We recently discovered serious economic sabotage in the south along the Strategic Pipeline that connects the south and the north," he said.

"These criminals are piercing the pipeline, draining the crude, transporting it on road tankers through the Basra area. The crude is eventually taken to barges and is smuggled to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates," he added.

He said Iraqi oil officials had asked the U.S. military to move quickly to stamp out the problem.

"We warned the Americans about the scale of the problem. If something is not done quickly it will be a big problem for the Iraqi oil industry," he said.

International investors and oil companies are keeping a close eye on Iraq's efforts to revive exports needed to finance the reconstruction of the country after years of war and economic sanctions.

The official said Iraq was expecting to produce only between 800,000-900,000 bpd by mid-July, well below its previous target.

It is using about 300,000 bpd to run domestic refineries but is being forced to reinject some production in its northern fields while the Kirkuk export pipeline remains closed.

[a_Turk]

Another "accident?"

How many "accidents" now? I lost count..

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[a_Turk]

If you want on or off this list, please let me know.

[RLK]

We wanted a war and now we have one.

[ARCADIA]

We wanted a war and now we have one.

If, the conflict reignites, it is likely to expand to include Syria and Iran.

[Woodman]

Maybe the millions of locals that have an interest in selling their oil could step up to the plate and defend the pipelines?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The war started even before Sept 11, 2001!

And Saddam was behind much of it!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi!

[Mortimer Snavely]

Our Kurdish buddies benefit from this due to the problems it causes Turkey, and because we won't let the Turks do anything about the Kurds. Hussein, if he's still kicking, benefits, because as much chaos as can be mustered further tasks US security ops.

[Shermy]

It's not "Iraqis." It's Iran and Saudi fighting it out in the wildly free market.

[Grampa Dave]

The last thing that Iran and the Saudis want is to see Iraq pumping oil on demand and supplying it!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Ditto to your post #12. There are many people/countries who do not find the thought of Iraq selling oil in the free market a comforting thought.

[Grampa Dave]

The French, Germans, Russians and left wingers around the world including our Rat Politicians who "do not find the thought of Iraq selling oil in the free market a comforting thought."

A free Iraq selling oil on demand and meeting that demand is a nightmare for so many countries and left wingers around the world.

[ARCADIA]

"The French, Germans, Russians and left wingers around the world including (some) our Rat Politicians "do not find the thought of ...the free market a comforting thought."

[Grampa Dave]

Your summary is better than mine and summarizes how the Rats feel about Free Markets.

"The French, Germans, Russians and left wingers around the world including (some) our Rat Politicians "do not find the thought of ...the free market a comforting thought."

[Grampa Dave]

Your summary is better than mine and summarizes how the Rats feel about Free Markets.

"The French, Germans, Russians and left wingers around the world including (some) our Rat Politicians "do not find the thought of ...the free market a comforting thought."

[Grampa Dave]

Your summary is better than mine and summarizes how the Rats feel about Free Markets.

"The French, Germans, Russians and left wingers around the world including (some) our Rat Politicians "do not find the thought of ...the free market a comforting thought."

[RightWhale]

saboteurs are digging in the sand beneath the pipelines and planting bombs

Five mile corridor 'no one allowed' each side of the pipeline and patrol day and night.