Iraq establishes oil security force

[leftchick]

http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050324-082822-5462r

KIRKUK, Iraq -- The Iraqi interim government, in conjunction with U.S. forces, is setting up three dedicated oil security battalions to safeguard oil infrastructure in and around the northern city of Kirkuk.

In addition, the nascent Iraqi air force, based at a U.S. airfield near Kirkuk, has begun patrolling the area's three major pipelines using Jordanian-built light aircraft equipped with a variety of sensors.

Kirkuk's oil accounts for 40 percent of Iraq's reserves. Pipelines originating in Kirkuk carry crude to Jordan and Turkey for refining and to Baghdad for shipment to port facilities.

"Kirkuk has not been meeting its potential," said Maj. Darren Blagburn, an intelligence officer with the Idaho National Guard's 116th Regiment, which is deployed to the city.

At peak capacity, Kirkuk has the ability to pump about 1.2 million barrels a day. But terrorist attacks on pipelines and equipment have pushed down production to about 800,000 barrels per day.

[Kagemusha]

1. Only in Kirkuk, huh?

Figures, somehow.

[bemildred]

2. New org chart.

It will be interesting to see if this has any effect.

[leftchick]

3. in conjunction with US forces!!!

The US forces have been providing ALL of the oil/pipeline protections. It has worked swell so far eh? :eyes:

[plasticsundance]

4. Exactly

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/03/17/business/news/19_00_183_16_05.txt

This year, as happened last year, almost none of Kirkuk's oil will reach the international market.

Incessant sabotage of the northern oil pipeline by insurgents has all but sealed it off from its export terminal in Turkey. Before the U.S.-led invasion, the line handled around 750,000 barrels a day.

Across Iraq, insurgents have battered oil installations with an average of two dozen blasts a day.