(MEBG) — The first of six new Iraqi refineries will come on stream later this month, reported the official Iraqi newspaper, Al-Qadissiya, quoting Industry Minister Adnan Abdul-Majeed Jassim. The soon-to-be-activated refinery is located at Baiji, 220 km north of Baghdad, and will have a 10,000 barrel per day (bpd) capacity
The minister did not say where the other five refineries would be located or what their capacity would be, but an Iraqi oil industry official added that another refinery, also with a capacity of 10,000 bpd, was being constructed in the southern city of Ammarah, 366 km south of Baghdad. It will satisfy domestic consumption in Ammarah and nearby towns.
The country's main refineries in Baiji, Basra and Daura, bore the brunt of artillery attacks and aerial bombardments during the Gulf War of the 1980s, but were brought back to life shortly after the conflict ended. But these refineries have been cannibalizeded for spare parts and are producing refined products of low quality.
Iraq is also repairing two berths at Khor al-Amaya in the Northern Gulf with the aim of providing an export capacity of about 700,000 bpd by the end of the year. Iraqi authorities still require UN Security Council approval for any exports. Iraq's current oil products output from its three refineries is estimated to be about 500,000 bpd.
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
