Expatica news

Gunmen blew up another oil pipeline in southern Iraq

27 March 2008

 

BAGHDAD – An oil official in the southern city of Basra says a bomb has struck an oil pipeline. The attack comes as Iraqi security forces have been clashing with Shiite militia fighters in Iraq’s southern oil hub.

The official says a fire is raging after the bomb exploded underneath the Zubair-1 pipeline, which is used to transport crude oil to tanks at Iraq’s two exporting terminals on the Gulf. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release the information.

The official says Thursday’s blast will likely have an impact on Iraq’s oil exports but the extent is uncertain.

Iraq’s oil exports have recently witnessed upbeat levels since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

[Copyright AP 2008]