Chalabi vows to ensure flow of Iraqi oil exports

Ahmad Chalabi who assumes the works of the Iraqi oil ministry in addition of the post of the deputy premier in the new Iraqi government announced to work for ensuring the flow of exports and to execute contracts finalized by the previous government.

Chalabi's commitments were made at a time when the Iraqi oil marketing establishment which is owned by the government is preparing to negotiate on sales estimated at 1.5 million barrels of oil daily in the second half of 2005.

Officials in the western and Iraqi oil industries noted the possibility that Chalabi to leave his finger print on the oil sector which includes reserves reach 115 billion barrels even if he occupies this post for a short period of time.

Contrary to the two former oil ministers Thamer al-Ghadban and Ibrahim Baher al-Oloum, Chalabi does not enjoy the experience in the state-owned oil sector where 80,000 persons are employed.

Chalabi faces a new mission in the attempt to increase oil production in a country whose oil pipeline are often exposed to repeated attacks by gunmen.