Oil exports from southern Iraq back to normal

[Barrett808]

BASRA, Iraq (AFP) - Oil exports from the south of Iraq are back to their normal level of 85,000 barrels per hour, an official of the South Oil Company told AFP.

"Oil exports through the two pipelines are back to normal since Saturday night to the two terminals at Basra and Khor al-Amaya," the official said Sunday. "The average output has reached 85,000 barrels an hour."

For 13 days exports were down to between 36,000 and 42,000 barrels a day due to threats by Shiite militia loyal to Moqtada Sadr to blow up oil pipelines feeding the two southern terminals.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040822/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_oil_export&cid=1514&ncid=1480

Bets on the truth of this official claim?

[patdem]

1. Funny you ask! See this post from LBN:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x768743

Says only one line in operating??

"Official Propoganda"

[Barrett808]

2. Pipeline ablaze near Basra

Pipeline ablaze near Basra

August 21 - blast near pipeline valve at Berjisiya, 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Basra, sparks fire on oil pipeline connecting the Rumeila oilfields with export storage tanks in the Faw peninsula. Another bomb was found nearby and defused. The pipeline was shut for a week due to sabotage threats. Lt. Mohammed al-Mousawi of the Iraqi National Guard explained "The aim behind attack is to damage the pipeline in case it is turned on again."

http://www.iags.org/n082204.htm

[leftchick]

5. I knew I read about this yesterday....

The new Iraqi propaganda ministry is off to a fine start... :eyes:

[Barrett808]

3. Attacks on oil infrastructure for month of August

87. August 3 - explosion about 75 miles (120 km) west of Kirkuk at Al-Fateha on critical pipeline juncture caused a huge fire and road closure between the Beiji refineries and Kirkuk and halted exports through the northern pipeline to Ceyhan.

88. August 5 - bomb on oil pipeline in Kirkuk area found by Northern Oil Company security personnel exploded as Task Force Danger troops were investigating it. No injuries.

89. August 5 - blast on the Kirkuk to Ceyhan oil pipeline sparked a fire that was swiftly contained since oil flow was halted on the pipeline as a result of the Aug. 3 attack.

90. August 5 - attack sparked fire on gas pipeline that feeds both the Bayji power station and a propane factory in Taji 12 miles (20 km) north of Baghdad. Northern Oil Company's gas division director, Honer Najib, said "Firefighters are trying to contain the blaze but the sabotage is going to effect the production of electricity in Iraq."

91. August 9 - attack halted oil flow on the major pipeline that feeds the southern terminals, reducing exports from 1.9 mbd to the about 1 mbd, fed through the smaller 42-inch pipeline.

92. August 14 - attack on domestic oil pipeline near the town of Mussayyib south of Baghdad sparked fire, and has caused shortages in the domestic supply of gasoline.

93. August 15 - rocket-propelled grenades were fired on an oil well 25 miles (40 km) east of the southern town of Amarah setting it ablaze.

94. August 18 - Northern Iraqi oil company security officer was killed and 2 others wounded 6 miles (10 km) from Kirkuk.

95. August 19 - attackers inflitrated the Basra headquarters of the Iraqi Southern Oil Company setting a fire that obliterated warehouses containing drilling equipment, among other items, spread to the firm's offices, and cut electricity. "They came in droves, surrounded the building and looted it before setting it on fire," said a company official. Firefighters arriving at the compound were shot at and fled.

96. August 20 - attack apparently perpetuated by al-Sadr loyalists sparked fire on pipeline through which oil flows from the Bezergan oil field in the south to a refinery in Amarah, 180 miles (290 km) southeast of Baghdad.

97. August 20 - explosion at 8:30am on domestic pipeline through which oil flows from Kirkuk to Baiji refinery at point 19 miles (30 km) west of Kirkuk.

98. August 21 - blast near pipeline valve at Berjisiya, 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Basra, sparks fire on oil pipeline connecting the Rumeila oilfields with export storage tanks in the Faw peninsula. Another bomb was found nearby and defused. The pipeline was shut for a week due to sabotage threats. Lt. Mohammed al-Mousawi of the Iraqi National Guard explained "The aim behind attack is to damage the pipeline in case it is turned on again."

http://www.iags.org/iraqpipelinewatch.htm

[Khephra]

4. "Normal" in Iraq = FUBAR

So, it's normal, alright.