Iraq crude export target will not be met until Q2 2005:consultant

Baghdad (Platts)--13Sep2004

Iraq will not meet its end-of-year export goal of 3-mil b/d of crude oil
because of the "plague" of regular sabotage to pipelines around the country, a
senior US oil consultant in the country now estimates. The target has been
pushed back to the second quarter of 2005, Norm Szydlowski, a consultant to
Iraq's ministry of oil, told Platts on Sunday. 

The 3-mil b/d target was set soon after US-led troops toppled the former government in May 2003. Exports in
the south currently run at about 1.75-mil b/d, while exports from the Turkish
port of Ceyhan are sporadic, and have occurred only after tenders for the oil.
"I don't think we'll make it now with all of the sabotage," Szydlowski said.
Oil exports have been halted at least twice in recent months because of
explosions on various pipeline segments. "Sabotage is a plague, there is no
question about it," Szydlowski said.

Copyright © 2004 - Platts

Please visit:  www.platts.com

Their coverage of energy matters is extensive!!.