Iraq's oil exports are still running at half
their normal rates as a Shi'ite uprising prevented the re-opening a
main export pipeline and shut the South Oil Company's headquarters.
Exports have been around 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) for nearly a
week, since the southern pipeline was attacked by saboteurs and while a
U.S. offensive against the followers of Moqtada al-Sadr extended to
several Iraqi cities. The unrest and a threat by followers of the
Shi'ite cleric to attack the oil infrastructure in response to the U.S.
offensive have kept Iraq from reopening the 48-inch pipeline and
reaching its August export goal of 1.8 million bpd. An Iraqi oil
official said it was impossible to say how long the threat from the
uprising would cripple oil sales, the country's key revenue earner. [more ]
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