Iraq blames coalition helicopter for refinery fire

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Iraq's oil minister said a helicopter from the U.S.-led coalition caused a blaze on Tuesday that shut the major Shuaiba refinery near the southern oil hub of Basra, but an industry official blamed a mortar attack.

Spokesmen for the British and U.S. military denied any coalition helicopters had been involved in the incident.

An official at the state-run Southern Oil Company said the refinery had been closed as a precaution after the fire damaged the liquid petroleum gas and fuel refining units. The facility could come back online within two days.

Eight to 10 workers had received minor burns in the fire, which had since been extinguished, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said in a statement, read to Reuters over the telephone by a ministry official, that a hovering coalition helicopter had sparked the blaze.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15614891.htm

[maddezmom]

1. Basra Refinery LPG Unit Shut Down After Fire -Official

Source: Dow Jones

(Adds conflicting reports on cause of fire, details.)

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

A liquefied petroleum gas unit at Basra refinery, one of Iraq's three largest refineries, was shut after a fire broke out early Tuesday, an oil ministry official said.

"The unit was closed down after sustaining damage," the official told Dow Jones Newswires. He didn't say how much LPG the unit was producing before the fire.

~snip~

Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said the fire was caused by a helicopter which flew in a very low altitude over the refinery, a ministry statement quoted him as saying.

"We have warned and prevented planes from flying low over oil installations," he said.

However, an oil official in Basra where the incident took place said the fire was sparked by a rocket attack.

"A rocket struck the refinery early in the morning around 0530 and it was spread to nearby LPG units and gasoline stores," the official said. "Fire fighting teams were able to control the fire at 1100 local time.



Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080115%5cACQDJON200801150722DOWJONESDJONLINE000237.htm&