By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The blast targeting a main oil pipeline in the southern city of Basra is negatively affecting oil exports, according to an oil official.
Samir Al-Maksousi, media director at South Oil Co, told KUNA that the pipeline was bombed with an explosive device Thursday morning and that this set it on fire, with heavy smoke columns rising into the air.
The pipeline transfers oil to reservoirs in the Al-Faw area and was one of the main lines that transported crude oil to the southern port, he said.
A source at Basra Port, requesting anonymity, told KUNA that Iraq would lose one third of its export capacity as a result of this bombing. Iraq’s crude oil exports stood at 1.54 million bpd in February.
Meanwhile, Civil Defence Director Major General Abdulrasoul Al-Raidi told KUNA that fire fighters and civil defence personnel were working hard to contain the fire.
A large amount of oil has flowed to the ground and the main oil station, Zubair I, has been closed down, he said.