IRAQ: JOING U.S. AND IRAQI PATROLS WORK TO SECURE DIESEL AND NATURAL GAS PIPELINES FROM LOOTERS AND SABOTAGE

Record ID: 646578

  • Title: IRAQ: JOING U.S. AND IRAQI PATROLS WORK TO SECURE DIESEL AND NATURAL GAS PIPELINES FROM LOOTERS AND SABOTAGE
  • Date: 23rd September 2003
  • Summary: (W5) TIKRIT, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 22, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. AV APACHE HELICOPTERS FIRING AT THE GROUND; SLV SMOKE ON GROUND FROM SHOOTING; AV APACHE HELICOPTERS FLYING AWAY 0.19 (W5) BAYJI, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 22, 2003) (REUTERS) 2. SLV BAYJI REFINERY (2 SHOTS) 0.28 3. SLV U.S. MILITARY HUMVEE DRIVING THROUGH REFINERY; SLV U.S. SOLDIERS PATROLLING REFINERY; SLV SOLDIERS ON GUARD IN REFINERY (4 SHOTS) 0.48 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MAJOR MIKE PANCIERA, SPOKESPERSON FOR 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION, TASK FORCE 366 SAYING "We run ground patrols and air patrols that run the length of the pipeline several times a day, day and night." 0.54 5. SLV REFINERY; SLV IRAQI SECURITY GUARDS AT GATES OF REFINERY (4 SHOTS) 1.13 (W5) 55 KM SOUTHEAST OF MOSUL, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 22, 2003) (REUTERS) 6. MV U.S. TROOPS STANDING NEXT TO HUMVEE; SCU U.S. TROOPS LOOKING AT MAP OF PIPELINES (3 SHOTS) 1.27 7. TRACKING SHOT FROM HUMVEE PATROL DRIVING ALONG PIPELINE 1.35 8. SLV U.S. TROOPS ON PATROL; SLV U.S. TROOPS AND IRAQI POLICE CHECKING A SPOT WHERE LOOTERS DUG DOWN TO THE PIPES; SLV IRAQI POLICE WITH U.S. TROOPS SETTING UP AN OBSERVATION POST (7 SHOTS) 2.17 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMANDER OF 'BRAVO' COMPANY, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, CAPTAIN JOSEPH KUCHAN SAYING "This portion of the pipeline, anyway, we've run into we saw some explosive devices when we first got here, but since then there's been very little attempts at trying to sabotage or looting the pipeline." 2.34 10. SLV U.S. TROOPS NEAR A HUMVEE IN THE OBSERVATION POINT 2.38 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: 55 KM SOUTHEAST OF MOSUL, TIKRIT AND BAYJI, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA1NHLT5SQV5ACXSOPI7ULMIA56
  • Story Text: Joint U.S. and Iraqi patrols work to secure diesel
    and natural gas pipelines around Iraq from looters
    and sabotage.

    U.S. troops and Iraqi police conducted joint patrols
    in different areas of Iraq on Monday (September 22, 2003),
    in an effort to secure one of Iraq's most important industries.

    Carrying out routine security operations, the forces
    blew up an ammunition depot near the Iraqi city of Tikrit,
    Saddam Hussein's hometown.

    In the city of Bayji, a U.S. force responsible for
    installing and securing the refinery facilities, started
    training Iraqis police to guard their own pipelines.

    "We run ground patrols and air patrols that run the
    length of the pipeline several times a day, day and night."
    said a spokesperson for the force.

    Elsewhere in Iraq, U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police have
    patrolled a section of pipeline from Mosul carrying diesel
    and natural gas.

    The pipelines have been the focus of sabotage which have
    hampered post-war Iraqi oil sales. They are difficult to
    secure as they stretch for hundreds of kilometres through
    Iraq.

    The patrols started two weeks ago in an effort to secure
    the pipelines against looters and saboteurs. As part of
    the joint patrol, observation points have been set up along
    the 40 km underground section of the pipeline which feeds
    from Mosul to Baghdad.

    "This portion of the pipeline, anyway, we've run
    into we saw some explosive devices when we first got
    here but since then there's been very little attempts at
    trying to sabotage or looting the pipeline," said Captain
    Joseph Kuchan, the force commander.

    Numerous fires have broken out along pipelines in the
    past months and are believed to be sabotage designed to
    hinder the U.S.-aided reconstruction of the Iraqi oil
    industry.

    As part of his 87 billion United States dollar budget
    request for postwar Iraq, U.S. President Bush has asked
    lawmakers to provide 2.1 billion USD "to rehabilitate oil
    infrastructure and secure domestic consumption."

  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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