IRAQ: FIRE THAT HIT NORTHERN OIL EXPORT PIPELINE HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED

Record ID: 344927

  • Title: IRAQ: FIRE THAT HIT NORTHERN OIL EXPORT PIPELINE HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED
  • Date: 16th August 2003
  • Summary: (U3) BAIJI, IRAQ (AUGUST 16, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV BAIJI PIPELINE ON FIRE; SLV FLAMES IN DESERT, BLACK SMOKE RISING; MV IRAQI OFFICIALS AT SCENE (6 SHOTS) 0.53 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SIHAM MAHDI SALEH HEAD OF TECHNICAL SUPERVISORS FOR TURKEY/ IRAQ PIPELINE, SAYING "Yes the Iraq-Turkey pipeline has stopped, after it started functioning properly with no obstacles (recently). Despite some of the obstacles be it communication or others, still we managed to operate it and we continued to operate it. (Then) this fire happened and pumping has stopped." 1.13 3. SLV BULLDOZER BURYING FIRE WITH SAND; SLV FIRE, BLACK SMOKE RISING (6 SHOTS) 2.04 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TIKRIT, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA96KCS5XMCDBMHDV5DYFFKHB82
  • Story Text: The fire that hit Iraq's northern oil export
    pipeline has been extinguished.

    The fire that hit Iraq's northern oil export
    pipeline to Turkey was extinguished on Saturday (August
    16, 2003). It took firefighters 24 hours to contain the fire
    affecting the Baiji line.

    It was not clear how long it would take to reopen the
    pipeline, which had begun moving Iraq's Kirkuk crude for
    the first time since exports were revived following the war
    that toppled Saddam Hussein on April 9.

    The damage to the Iraq-Turkey pipeline is the latest
    setback to efforts to rebuild Iraq's oil industry and
    generate revenues for reconstruction after years of wars
    and economic sanctions under Saddam.

    Iraq had struggled for months to repair its northern
    oil export pipeline after a spate of sabotage blasts.

    Sabotage is not the only problem. Iraq also faces the
    challenge of keeping oil flowing through a pipeline that
    has suffered from a lack of investment due to 13 years of
    economic sanctions.

    Iraq had been exporting all of its oil from the south
    before the northern pipeline opened again. But the southern
    region is also facing problems. Theft of power lines has
    halved exports and threatens to bring sales to a standstill.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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