28-05-06
As Iraq's brutal summer heat sends temperatures
soaring above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), a dire shortage of petroleum
products is damaging the economy and cutting electricity supplies in Baghdad to
new lows.
The shortage is due to a host of reasons, including rivalries among political
parties in the south, but an interior ministry spokesman said the security
situation was a major cause.
"In addition to attacks on pipelines, trucks carrying petroleum products are
in the sights of the rebels. Some gas stations had to close after their drivers
refused to go pick up gasoline and other products stored in the dangerous areas
around Baghdad," said Assem Jihad.
The capital has some 160 gas stations, of which half are privately run, and long
lines of motorists stretch in front of those still selling gasoline.
"The daily consumption of gasoline reaches 20 mm litres (5 mm gallons) for
the country, of which 6 to 7 mm is for Baghdad," where 6 mm people live, said
Jihad. "And supply is well below demand."
Sabotage of the oil infrastructure is also ongoing, aggravating the situation,
he added, nothing there had been two attacks recently on pipelines to the north
and south of the capital.
Source: AFP