Comments on: Iraq oil exports and revenue up, but production is down… http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/03/25/iraq-oil-exports-and-revenue-up-but-production-is-down%e2%80%a6/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:40:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Thomas http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/03/25/iraq-oil-exports-and-revenue-up-but-production-is-down%e2%80%a6/#comment-154 Thomas Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:05:45 +0000 http://iraqoilreport.com/2008/03/25/iraq-oil-exports-and-revenue-up-but-production-is-down%e2%80%a6/#comment-154 What would it take for production in the south to be interrupted? How likely do you think this is? Unless Sadr unleashes his militia and it begins to take on the Iraqi army, takes over Basra, blows up pipelines, etc... then it's hard to tell at this point. However, Reuters reported today: UPDATE 1-Fighting may soon affect Iraq south oilfield work 26 March 2008 07:58 Reuters News BAGHDAD, March 26 (Reuters) - Oil production and exports from Iraq's southern oilfields could be disrupted in three days if workers cannot reach their offices due to fighting in Basra, a Southern Oil Company official told Reuters on Wednesday. "If the military operations continue for three more days, the oil workers will not be able to continue their work and this is going to definitely affect oil production and exports," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The streets of Basra, 550 km (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, have largely been empty since Tuesday when Iraqi security forces launched a major military operation to clear out gunmen from the oil-rich city. Oil workers in the Basra province work 24-hour shifts and have not been replaced since Tuesday, the oil company official said. "The workers are now going through a very hard time with shortages of food, and are tired from the heat because they are not being replaced," he said. ------ If this "battle" in Basra is only the beginning, then who knows what might happen to production and exports. It seems to all depend on whether this is the entire battle, or if it's only the beginning of a long fight.... What would it take for production in the south to be interrupted? How likely do you think this is? Unless Sadr unleashes his militia and it begins to take on the Iraqi army, takes over Basra, blows up pipelines, etc… then it’s hard to tell at this point.

However, Reuters reported today:

UPDATE 1-Fighting may soon affect Iraq south oilfield work
26 March 2008
07:58
Reuters News

BAGHDAD, March 26 (Reuters) - Oil production and exports from Iraq’s southern oilfields could be disrupted in three days if workers cannot reach their offices due to fighting in Basra, a Southern Oil Company official told Reuters on Wednesday.

“If the military operations continue for three more days, the oil workers will not be able to continue their work and this is going to definitely affect oil production and exports,” said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The streets of Basra, 550 km (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, have largely been empty since Tuesday when Iraqi security forces launched a major military operation to clear out gunmen from the oil-rich city.

Oil workers in the Basra province work 24-hour shifts and have not been replaced since Tuesday, the oil company official said.

“The workers are now going through a very hard time with shortages of food, and are tired from the heat because they are not being replaced,” he said.

—— If this “battle” in Basra is only the beginning, then who knows what might happen to production and exports. It seems to all depend on whether this is the entire battle, or if it’s only the beginning of a long fight….

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