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Iraq's oil industry is witnessing leap and prosperous
05/10/2012 0:00
BAGHDAD - A translation of the morning
over the past four decades, Iraqi crude oil production to take the path of oscillation between the rise and fall, driven up jets of crude oil and then springs back Vchdh down the burdens of war and sanctions. In the wake of the U.S. occupation of Iraq's production deficit for the maximum return to the levels that existed during the rule of dictator Saddam .. Was not the case now. In the month of April, Iraq has exported more crude than it did in any other month since the invasion of Kuwait, the dictatorial regime in 1990. This success, say analysts and policy makers, it can happen jolt the world economy and helping to bridge the gap generated by the lack of processing oil from Iran. Also indicates this situation is the emergence of Iraq as an oil modern with all the generated oil wealth enormous influence and trouble. Says Larry Goldstein, director of the Research Foundation Energy Policy Foundation, a non-profit: «in a matter of five years or the next seven will be able to Iraq to fill approximately half of the increase in cumulative growing global demand for oil. »was the cornerstone of the progress made by Iraq is the ability shown by the Government in reducing levels of violence since 2008, and then enable them to maintain security in the wake of the withdrawal of U.S. troops by the end of last year.
this security gains reflected on the oil sector. Vonbob strategic oil extended to Turkey was disabled from work due to repeated operations to explode, but during the past few years has become transmits about 20 percent of the total exports of the country. These oil revenues provided a powerful charge of the Iraqi economy. Began the Iraqi government, which supports more than 95 percent of their income on sales of crude, with funding ambitious projects in the fields of building and construction, including roads, hospitals and power plants.
began to leap oil production in Iraq, the beginning of seriousness in the years 2009 and 2010 when it was A tenth sign a contract with companies such as «BP - BP» and »Exxon Mobil» and »Royal Dac Shell». A year later, was that companies had started pumping crude from the amounts exceed the capacity of crumbling infrastructure to deal with it, so it was the oil ministry have often to address a request to those companies to reduce their production. This jump in oil production came late from the technical point of view. Valjjulojeon were for a long time seem to be affected and impressed by the Iraqi oil seas, lying in the ground - one of these giant fields is called crazy - but the limiting factor has been the lack of investment. But today's global companies pour billions of dollars taken in those fields, while the Iraqi government has embarked on to achieve significant progress, albeit Mtlkia, in the administration of infrastructure chock. Analysts were skeptical look at the Iraqi oil sector since a long time as a succession of corners suffocating, and any of them would turn imprisoned and stop the flow of crude. Is not these analysts doubt about the abundance of produce fields of Iraq, but the concern stems from the lack of pipelines, pumping stations and storage tanks that carry oil from wellheads to oil tankers. By one of the installations in Kirkuk, for example, which holds the handle about a dozen Iraqi crude, 80-year-old, which is closed at times due to leakage of toxic gases. But the breakthrough curves experienced by a stifling job was a cause for optimism when it opened and the ministry of oil export facility in the Gulf off the coast of Basra in March last year. Fathmal supertanker issue take days, but after the construction of additional berths Iraq has become able to carry more ships at the same time. Thanks to this new facility up Iraq's production to 2.5 million barrels of oil per day in April, according to what he says Falah al-Amiri, head facility State Oil Marketing In this increase by a fifth since the beginning of this year.
Perhaps this was progress in the field of infrastructure a cause for optimism worldwide, but Iraq is still suffering from the legacy of war and political disputes and bureaucratic idle .. A so-called industry officials sometimes «factors above the ground» in comparison with the immediate challenges of drilling and exploration through thousands of feet of rock under the ground. Came oil to exacerbate these problems rather than solutions to them. Perhaps the deepest cracks in the system of the Iraqi state is the one that separates the region of Kurdistan and the central government. It was the two parties has long been at odds over the distribution of powers relating to oil, the parties entered into contracts based on Tfseerathma divergent Iraqi law.
This crisis led to a series of disputes which have increased on 1 April, when stopped Kurdistan export oil, which represents about 8 percent of the oil sales Iraq to the world.
Iraq has achieved record production in the last month away from the contribution of Kurdistan - In this testimony to the technical progress made in Basra - but the dispute itself shows clearly how the oil can be a source of wealth and disorder together. Rising oil production in the South dropped a motivated key that would urge Baghdad to try to reach a settlement with the Kurds: Iraq is now able to fund the entire budget of 100 billion dollars without the need for oil of Kurdistan, according to what he says Oil Minister Abdul Karim and coffee.
The main focus point is the decision of the conclusion of Kurdistan six contracts with Exxon Mobil Baghdad despite warning her that such transactions will be prepared in violation of the law. And three of these deals require Exxon to the investigations in the Kirkuk region disputed between Kurdistan and Baghdad.
since stopping Kurdish oil exports claimed the leaders in Baghdad vows deduct the share of Kurdistan from the federal budget, while repeated the President of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, for his part his threats implicit declaration of secession .
for the Washington Post
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