- Title: IRAQ: New oil production unit opens in Najaf refinery
- Date: 16th August 2009
- Summary: NAJAF, IRAQ (AUGUST 15, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IRAQI FLAGS INSIDE NAJAF REFINERY FLAG OF IRAQ'S MINISTRY OF OIL / IRAQI FLAGS IN BACKGROUND WORKER WORKING INSIDE NAJAF REFINERY IRAQI FLAGS AND BALLOONS INSIDE NAJAF REFINERY VARIOUS OF WORKERS INSIDE NAJAF REFINERY OIL FLAME IRAQ'S MINISTER OF OIL HUSSEIN AL-SHAHRISTANI OIL FLAME (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQ'S MINISTER OF OIL HUSSEIN AL-SHAHRISTANI SAYING: "We congratulate our people in Najaf with this achievement which will offer them what they need from crude oil next Winter. It will be enough to meet the demand for their needs, provide a surplus and save all their needs from gasoline." IRAQI FLAGS AND BALLOONS INSIDE NAJAF REFINERY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQ'S MINISTER OF OIL HUSSEIN AL-SHAHRISTANI SAYING: "We have another big project close to this refinery, which is Najaf reservoir which (promotion) has reached to its final steps. It comprised of 18 big reservoirs of different oil derivatives. The total storage power among refinery tanks' and tanks' of the nearby reservoirs is more than 200 million litres per day." WORKER WORKING INSIDE REFINERY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQ'S MINISTER OF OIL HUSSEIN AL-SHAHRISTANI SAYING: "Today, with this inauguration, we have met the demands of the province from gasoline and crude oil, but still there will be needs to Benzene which we bring from other areas. As we launch and operate the Benzene Improvement Unit next year, God willing, the holy city of Najaf will fully depend on this refinery to meet all their needs." WORKERS INSIDE NAJAF REFINERY HUSSEIN AL-SHAHRISTANI, IRAQ'S MINISTER OF OIL SPEAKING TO ENGINEER WORKER PRESSING BUTTON / EXAMINING OPERATING BUTTONS CLOSE OF REMOTE CONTROL
- Embargoed: 31st August 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Domestic Politics,Energy
- Reuters ID: LVA1V5RUGS1LFBDZ0J5NZPYX7BK9
- Story Text: An additional unit to the Najaf oil refinery was inaugurated on Saturday (August 15) in the district of al-Haidariya in Najaf (160 km south of Baghdad).
The facility should increase production of refined products at the facility by up to 30,000 barrels per day, helping meet the demands of the city's residents for oil, kerosene and benzene.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Iraqi oil minister Hussein al-Shahristani and a number of Iraqi officials.
During the inauguration ceremony, Shahristani said the city would be able to meet all its demands from the refinery as well as have some fuel left over.
"We congratulate our people in Najaf with this achievement which will offer them what they need from crude oil next Winter. It will be enough to meet the demand for their needs, provide a surplus and save all their needs from gasoline."
Shahristani said that the ministry is working on promoting another big project which comprises of 18 large reservoirs of different oil derivatives.
He added that the total storage power of these reservoirs will reach to more than 200 million litres per day.
"We have another big project close to this refinery, that is Najaf reservoir which (promotion) has reached in its final stages. It's comprised of 18 big reservoirs of different oil derivatives. The total storage power among refinery tanks' and tanks' of the nearby reservoirs is more than 200 million litres per day," he added.
The refinery was built in October 2006 as part of a plan to build small refineries to curtail the shortfall in petroleum products that has forced Iraq to rely on imports from neighbouring countries.
Shahristani said that a new unit to help produce benzene will be added to the refinery next year, a move that will help Najafis to fully depend on the refinery products from their city.
"Today, with this inauguration, we have meet the demands of the province from gasoline and crude oil, but still there will be needs to benzene which we bring from other areas. With erecting and operating Benzene Improvement Unit next year, God willing, the holy city of Najaf will fully depend on this refinery to meet all their needs," he added.
Iraq has the world's third-largest oil reserves with an estimated 115 billion barrels. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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