Syrian: The Iraqi pipeline is just for a test, to be canceled
Syria-Iraq, Politics, 3/16/2002

The Syrian oil minister Ibrahim Haddad said on Friday in Vienna that Syria is still testing the oil pipeline which is extended from Iraq since 20 years, but it will work to cancel this line for using a new line to be used in the framework of the oil-for-food agreement between Iraq and the UN.

Haddad explained to a group of journalists in Vienna, on the sideline of the OPEC's ministerial conference that pumping oil in the said pipeline is not regular and is less in its maximum to 100,000 barrels per day because of oil leakage and technical problems.

Haddad, who is visiting Vienna to attend meetings of the OPEC as an observer said that "the oil which reaches Syria during testing the line is used by our refineries and we use it to increase some of our oil exports."

He explained "we test this line from time to time, from a week or another, but so far it does not work properly, despite the fact we spent money to repair it."

The Syrian minister added that Syria is currently producing 550,000 barrels of crude oil and its refineries consume between 250- 3000,000 of this amount.

He continued "we also approved making a feasibility study to establish a new pipeline and when it will be ready we will operate it under the umbrella of the UN." He added that Syria will discuss halting testing of the old pipeline as soon as the feasibility study for the new one is completed.

He added that "continued or halting the operation of the old pipeline will be decided through negotiations between Syria, Iraq and the US."

Previous Stories:
  Al-Assad's views on regional issues   (2/20/2002)
  Two exhibitions for the Syrian products in Baghdad   (2/11/2002)
  Syrian source denies British accusations   (2/4/2002)
  Syria- Iraq cooperation to re-install oil pipeline   (10/31/2001)
  Syrian petroleum minister in Egypt to activate gas project   (10/17/2001)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search