Ministry restricts oil company security

Amidst growing government hostility towards foreign security companies, the Oil Ministry has ordered oil field subcontractors to get protection from the Oil Police rather than private firms.
Ministry restricts oil company security
Maj. Gen. Hamid Abdullah Ibrahim, head of the Iraqi Energy Police, on a March 7, 2012, tour of confiscated fuel smuggling tankers at the Dora refinery in Baghdad, with Members of Parliament. (STAFF/Iraq Oil Report)
By Ben Lando of Iraq Oil Report
Published Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

BAGHDAD - The Oil Ministry has instructed subcontractors to the foreign oil companies operating in southern Iraq to stop using private security firms, and instead rely on Iraq's Oil Police to guard equipment and personnel.

The orders have not yet been implemented and no companies have cut ties with their security contractors, company and ministry officials said.

This content is for registered users. Please login to continue.
If you are not a registered user, you may purchase a subscription or sign up for a free trial.