Iraq Baiji pipeline hit, north oil exports idle

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Daily Baiji/pipeline story

FATHA, Iraq, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Saboteurs have attacked an oil pipeline in northern Iraq near the refining centre of Baiji, witnesses said on Friday.

It was not immediately known whether the blast targeted the Iraq-Turkey export pipeline, which passes through the area as well as pipelines feeding refineries and power stations.

A blast on Thursday night ripped off a section of the pipeline in the Fatha area near Baiji, home to Iraq's biggest refinery, which has a 350,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity.

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Dhiaa al-Bakkaa, head of the State Oil Marketing Organisation, told Reuters this week exports through Turkey could flow at 250,000 barrels per day if the sabotage stops, compared to 800,000 bpd before the 2003 war.

Reuters

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1. AFAIK that means there is no oil flowing in Iraq now

the south was shut down last week.

[leftchick]

2. I read somewhere this morning it has been shut off since Dec.18

no oil from the North, no oil from the South! Now why was it we went there again?

[NNN0LHI]

3. Almost seems like the Iraqis don't want to be liberated from THEIR oil?

Hard to believe that someone didn't plan on this possibility. Heck, even I thought the Iraqis would just submit to Chimpy and let him steal all their oil without too much problem. Better start dusting off Plan-B. There is a Plan-B ain't there?

Don

[leftchick]

4. yikes! Photo of the Fire!

An Iraqi man covers his face while viewing fire raging at an oil pipeline complex near the Iraqi refining centre of Baiji, north of Baghdad, January 14, 2005. Saboteurs have fired a rocket on the 24-pipeline complex, setting a fire that will take days to control, witnesses and oil officials said. REUTERS/Sabah Hamid

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5. Where's Dante when we need him? nt

[NYC]

6. That black smoke must be choking

a whole lot of people.