Northern Iraqi oil pipeline hit by bombs; oil flow cut 80 pct
Monday, November 29, 2004 1:18:43 PM
afxpress.com
SAMARRA, Iraq (AFX) - Twin explosions hit an oil pipeline in northern Iraq, disrupting the flow of oil, an official said. The targeted pipeline connects Baiji and Dura refineries some 200 kilometres north of Baghdad, said Majid Mannun, chief engineer for the Baiji plant. "Two explosive devices hit this pipeline, the first one at around 8:40 am (0540 GMT) and the second ten minutes later, reducing the flow of oil by 80 pct," he said
These refineries provide power to large swathes of northern and central Iraq, but the engineer was not able to say for how long the flow would be disrupted or whether it would affect power supply in the region. A nearby pipeline, linking Baiji refinery to northern oil fields, was hit on Nov 25, despite the recent deployment of a 2,000-strong Iraqi security force to protect oil infrastructure |
