Conrad.DeWilde
01-02-2008, 10:00 AM
Text of report by Dlshad Anwar entitled "Hawlati reveals Iran's efforts to dry up oil wells in Kurdistan", published by independent Iraqi Kurdish newspaper Hawlati.
In a press analysis, Hawlati reveals the sites and numbers of the oil wells that are situated in the areas detached from the Kurdistan Region [in reference to disputed areas outside the region but claimed by the Kurds]. It also publishes meticulous information on Iran's efforts to dry up the oil wells of Naft Khana affiliated to Khanaqin Administrative District [east Diyala Governorate].
Hundreds oil wells exist in Kurdish populated regions of Diyala Governorate
According to what the experts in the field of geology say if refineries are established for those oil wells, they will secure fuel for all Kurdistan. However, according to the words of several sources, because of the impediments created by the Shi'i officials inside the Iraqi Oil Ministry, no refineries have been yet built for the oil wells in question.
In this respect, an official in charge in the Diyala Governorate, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Hawlati: "There are great numbers of oil wells in the regions detached from the Kurdistan Region. But due to the political and security conditions in the region, so far oil has not been produced out of them. That source also pointed out: "In addition to that great number of oil wells in the region, at the same time, the soil in those regions is extremely fertile and can be used in many other fields." With regard to the situation and number of oil wells, the source in Diyala Governorate also pointed out that the number of those oil wells that are situated in the Kurdish regions in Diyala Governorate is over 100, 40 of which are in the Naft Khana region, close to Mandali. Thirty more oil wells are in Hamrin and Qara Tapa regions [south of Kirkuk] and another thirty oil wells are in Udhaym region. This is besides many other oil wells that are in those areas, and have not been explored yet.
Although some time ago the rumour had it that the extremist Arabs in the region had extracted oil from the oil wells in the vicinity of Qara Tapa and had sold it later in the black market, the officials in Qara Tapa region deny that piece of news and say news of that sort is far from reality.
Despite the presence of that great number of oil wells in their region, the regional inhabitants are suffering from the lack of fuels and waiting to get fuel from its sources.
According to what the officials in the region say the oil in the oil wells of Naft Khana close to Mandali is among the best types of oil. But, as there is no refinery, to date no oil has been produced from those wells.
Iraqi MP on the Kurdistan Alliance list Pshtiwan Ahmad said: "In the National Assembly I have called for refineries to be built for those oil wells. However, for a number of reasons they have not been built to date."
Iran's efforts to dry up oil wells of Naft Khana near Mandali
Kurdish officials in the Diyala Governorate Council raise the alert that after the collapse of the Ba'th regime the Iranian government exploited the dire security conditions in Iraq and the weakness of the central government as an opportunity. It has been making efforts to dry up those oil wells that are inside the Kurdistan Region and, geologically, share the same oil source as the oil wells on the Iranian soil.
The Naft Khana region near Khanaqin is one of those regions that contain a great number of oil wells. The Diyala Governorate Council Chairman Ibrahim Hasan Bajalan said that the oil wells in this region were facing the threat of drying up as they were close to Iran and shared the border with it. Bajalan, a Kurd, who has been appointed on the Kurdistan Alliance's list explained that the Naft Khana oil wells were under the threat of drying up by the government of Iran. He pointed out that the oil wells of Naft Shah inside the Iranian territories share the same geological sources.
He added: "Due to the Iranian government's constant working and extracting tremendous quantities of oil from the oil wells of Naftshah, there is a serious threat that the oil wells at Naft Khana inside the region's soil will be dried up. The oil sources will be extracted by Iran, because the sources of those oil wells are lower at the Iranian side."
He went on to say: "For its part, the Iraqi government has neglected those oil wells and it keeps delaying the construction of an oil refinery, that had been promised three years ago, every time under a different excuse."
Bajalan also pointed out that "there is a serious danger that the oil wells of Naft Khana region will dry up because they have a limited production capacity. After all, since 1970, work has stopped in those oil wells. Meanwhile Iran has been producing oil from the oil wells of Naft Khana continuously, which unquestionably increases the possibility of their drying up."
Iraqi MP on the Kurdistan Alliance bloc, Pshtiwan Ahmad, confirmed the threat that the oil wells of Naft Khana will dry up. In a statement to Hawlati he said: "The source of those oil wells from the Iraqi side is higher. This height makes the oil flow into the oil fields at the Iranian side."
To what extent are Iran's efforts to dry up those oil wells legal?
With regard to the legality of Iran's efforts to dry up the oil wells of Naft Khana and produce a great deal of oil from the oil wells of Naftshah inside its own territories, Kurdish officials have different opinions. Some of them regard those Iranian efforts as illegal, while others believe that Iran has the right to continue producing oil from the oil wells inside its own soil.
On the other hand, Bajalan said: "Iraq can file complaints at the OPEC and call for partnership in the oil of those oil wells from Iran because that oil exists in our soil and Iran is extracting it from under the soil for itself. That is, the oil belongs to both of us but it takes all of it."
He added: "We put the blame on our own leadership in Baghdad. For how much longer are they going to postpone the construction of oil refineries? We also want to benefit from those wells and produce oil from them like Iran."
For his part, in contrast with Bajalan's opinion, Ahmad believes that Iran has the right to produce oil from its own soil. He says: "It is true that those oil wells share the same origin with Iran's oil wells. Continuous exploration and extraction of oil have had their effect and led to the decrease of oil in those oil wells, but Iran has not extracted oil from oil wells of Naft Khana. Rather, it has produced oil from its own oil wells, which is its own right."
The official sources in Diyala Governorate blame the failure to build oil refineries for those oil wells on political sides and on their postponement by the Shi'i officials in the Oil Ministry of the central government.
According to the statements by Kurdish officials in the Diyala Governing Council, during the past four years, the central government has decided three times to construct oil refineries for the Naft Khana oil wells. However, the Iraqi Minister of Oil, Husayn al-Shahristani has put impediments to the building of the refinery each time with a different excuse and has taken it to the governorates in southern Iraq.
Bajalan maintains that there is a political hand behind the failure to build oil refineries for the oil wells inside the region's soil. He says: "If there were no political hands behind that, why do they go and build oil refineries wherever there is a little oil, whereas there are a great number of oil wells in this region, still they do not build refineries for them? This is, while part of the turmoil inside the Diyala Governorate is related to the dearth of fuel." Bajalan also pointed out that "If refineries are built in Khanaqin, fuel will very easily be available. The oil wells in Khanaqin area will serve all Iraq. However, we are really amazed why they do not build them."
Regarding the discussion of the issue of the construction of oil refineries for the Khanaqin oil wells inside the Iraqi National Assembly, Ahmad said: "The issue of building a refinery has been put on the table. There is a great problem as to the site where the refinery is built. Under the pretext of the dearth of oil, the oil minister does not agree to build a refinery in its own old site, whereas we have no better place. We have only to take it outside Khanaqin close to the Diyala River. In that case, the oil will be at a long distance and will need higher costs."
Refinery for oil wells will help ensure power for Iraq
According to Diyala officials if a refinery is built for those oil wells, this will help in creating giant strategic projects such as electric plants and the construction of several factories for bricks, cement, gypsum and tiles.
In this respect, Bajalan said: "A Russian company had come forward and surveyed the region and it had offered its willingness to build a power station and an oil refinery and that it would later get back the costs from the proceeds of the oil. We sent a copy of the study to the Council of Ministers so as to approve it."
He added: "The Mansuriyah region, which belongs to Diyala Governorate, contains so much gas and oil that if there is a good company which is funded substantially, its gas can be used to secure power for all Iraq."
The Naft Khana, situated near Kalar [south of Sulaymaniyah], has been under the authority of the Kurdistan peshmerga force since the 1991 uprising. However, according to the March 1971 agreement, those regions were not under the control of the autonomous government of Kurdistan. Therefore, to date, Kurds have not been able to extract oil from them.
Bajalan also said: "In the first stage, the Mansuriyah gas can produce 500 Megawatt of electric power, which supplies ample electric power for all Diyala and several other regions in the other governorates. Also, in the second stage it will produce 1000 Megawatt electric power which is enough for all Baghdad and in the third stage 1500 Megawatt electric power can be produced from it, which will be enough for all Kurdistan.
[Description of Source: Al-Sulaymaniyah Hawlati in Sorani Kurdish -- weekly independent newspaper] from World News Connection
In a press analysis, Hawlati reveals the sites and numbers of the oil wells that are situated in the areas detached from the Kurdistan Region [in reference to disputed areas outside the region but claimed by the Kurds]. It also publishes meticulous information on Iran's efforts to dry up the oil wells of Naft Khana affiliated to Khanaqin Administrative District [east Diyala Governorate].
Hundreds oil wells exist in Kurdish populated regions of Diyala Governorate
According to what the experts in the field of geology say if refineries are established for those oil wells, they will secure fuel for all Kurdistan. However, according to the words of several sources, because of the impediments created by the Shi'i officials inside the Iraqi Oil Ministry, no refineries have been yet built for the oil wells in question.
In this respect, an official in charge in the Diyala Governorate, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Hawlati: "There are great numbers of oil wells in the regions detached from the Kurdistan Region. But due to the political and security conditions in the region, so far oil has not been produced out of them. That source also pointed out: "In addition to that great number of oil wells in the region, at the same time, the soil in those regions is extremely fertile and can be used in many other fields." With regard to the situation and number of oil wells, the source in Diyala Governorate also pointed out that the number of those oil wells that are situated in the Kurdish regions in Diyala Governorate is over 100, 40 of which are in the Naft Khana region, close to Mandali. Thirty more oil wells are in Hamrin and Qara Tapa regions [south of Kirkuk] and another thirty oil wells are in Udhaym region. This is besides many other oil wells that are in those areas, and have not been explored yet.
Although some time ago the rumour had it that the extremist Arabs in the region had extracted oil from the oil wells in the vicinity of Qara Tapa and had sold it later in the black market, the officials in Qara Tapa region deny that piece of news and say news of that sort is far from reality.
Despite the presence of that great number of oil wells in their region, the regional inhabitants are suffering from the lack of fuels and waiting to get fuel from its sources.
According to what the officials in the region say the oil in the oil wells of Naft Khana close to Mandali is among the best types of oil. But, as there is no refinery, to date no oil has been produced from those wells.
Iraqi MP on the Kurdistan Alliance list Pshtiwan Ahmad said: "In the National Assembly I have called for refineries to be built for those oil wells. However, for a number of reasons they have not been built to date."
Iran's efforts to dry up oil wells of Naft Khana near Mandali
Kurdish officials in the Diyala Governorate Council raise the alert that after the collapse of the Ba'th regime the Iranian government exploited the dire security conditions in Iraq and the weakness of the central government as an opportunity. It has been making efforts to dry up those oil wells that are inside the Kurdistan Region and, geologically, share the same oil source as the oil wells on the Iranian soil.
The Naft Khana region near Khanaqin is one of those regions that contain a great number of oil wells. The Diyala Governorate Council Chairman Ibrahim Hasan Bajalan said that the oil wells in this region were facing the threat of drying up as they were close to Iran and shared the border with it. Bajalan, a Kurd, who has been appointed on the Kurdistan Alliance's list explained that the Naft Khana oil wells were under the threat of drying up by the government of Iran. He pointed out that the oil wells of Naft Shah inside the Iranian territories share the same geological sources.
He added: "Due to the Iranian government's constant working and extracting tremendous quantities of oil from the oil wells of Naftshah, there is a serious threat that the oil wells at Naft Khana inside the region's soil will be dried up. The oil sources will be extracted by Iran, because the sources of those oil wells are lower at the Iranian side."
He went on to say: "For its part, the Iraqi government has neglected those oil wells and it keeps delaying the construction of an oil refinery, that had been promised three years ago, every time under a different excuse."
Bajalan also pointed out that "there is a serious danger that the oil wells of Naft Khana region will dry up because they have a limited production capacity. After all, since 1970, work has stopped in those oil wells. Meanwhile Iran has been producing oil from the oil wells of Naft Khana continuously, which unquestionably increases the possibility of their drying up."
Iraqi MP on the Kurdistan Alliance bloc, Pshtiwan Ahmad, confirmed the threat that the oil wells of Naft Khana will dry up. In a statement to Hawlati he said: "The source of those oil wells from the Iraqi side is higher. This height makes the oil flow into the oil fields at the Iranian side."
To what extent are Iran's efforts to dry up those oil wells legal?
With regard to the legality of Iran's efforts to dry up the oil wells of Naft Khana and produce a great deal of oil from the oil wells of Naftshah inside its own territories, Kurdish officials have different opinions. Some of them regard those Iranian efforts as illegal, while others believe that Iran has the right to continue producing oil from the oil wells inside its own soil.
On the other hand, Bajalan said: "Iraq can file complaints at the OPEC and call for partnership in the oil of those oil wells from Iran because that oil exists in our soil and Iran is extracting it from under the soil for itself. That is, the oil belongs to both of us but it takes all of it."
He added: "We put the blame on our own leadership in Baghdad. For how much longer are they going to postpone the construction of oil refineries? We also want to benefit from those wells and produce oil from them like Iran."
For his part, in contrast with Bajalan's opinion, Ahmad believes that Iran has the right to produce oil from its own soil. He says: "It is true that those oil wells share the same origin with Iran's oil wells. Continuous exploration and extraction of oil have had their effect and led to the decrease of oil in those oil wells, but Iran has not extracted oil from oil wells of Naft Khana. Rather, it has produced oil from its own oil wells, which is its own right."
The official sources in Diyala Governorate blame the failure to build oil refineries for those oil wells on political sides and on their postponement by the Shi'i officials in the Oil Ministry of the central government.
According to the statements by Kurdish officials in the Diyala Governing Council, during the past four years, the central government has decided three times to construct oil refineries for the Naft Khana oil wells. However, the Iraqi Minister of Oil, Husayn al-Shahristani has put impediments to the building of the refinery each time with a different excuse and has taken it to the governorates in southern Iraq.
Bajalan maintains that there is a political hand behind the failure to build oil refineries for the oil wells inside the region's soil. He says: "If there were no political hands behind that, why do they go and build oil refineries wherever there is a little oil, whereas there are a great number of oil wells in this region, still they do not build refineries for them? This is, while part of the turmoil inside the Diyala Governorate is related to the dearth of fuel." Bajalan also pointed out that "If refineries are built in Khanaqin, fuel will very easily be available. The oil wells in Khanaqin area will serve all Iraq. However, we are really amazed why they do not build them."
Regarding the discussion of the issue of the construction of oil refineries for the Khanaqin oil wells inside the Iraqi National Assembly, Ahmad said: "The issue of building a refinery has been put on the table. There is a great problem as to the site where the refinery is built. Under the pretext of the dearth of oil, the oil minister does not agree to build a refinery in its own old site, whereas we have no better place. We have only to take it outside Khanaqin close to the Diyala River. In that case, the oil will be at a long distance and will need higher costs."
Refinery for oil wells will help ensure power for Iraq
According to Diyala officials if a refinery is built for those oil wells, this will help in creating giant strategic projects such as electric plants and the construction of several factories for bricks, cement, gypsum and tiles.
In this respect, Bajalan said: "A Russian company had come forward and surveyed the region and it had offered its willingness to build a power station and an oil refinery and that it would later get back the costs from the proceeds of the oil. We sent a copy of the study to the Council of Ministers so as to approve it."
He added: "The Mansuriyah region, which belongs to Diyala Governorate, contains so much gas and oil that if there is a good company which is funded substantially, its gas can be used to secure power for all Iraq."
The Naft Khana, situated near Kalar [south of Sulaymaniyah], has been under the authority of the Kurdistan peshmerga force since the 1991 uprising. However, according to the March 1971 agreement, those regions were not under the control of the autonomous government of Kurdistan. Therefore, to date, Kurds have not been able to extract oil from them.
Bajalan also said: "In the first stage, the Mansuriyah gas can produce 500 Megawatt of electric power, which supplies ample electric power for all Diyala and several other regions in the other governorates. Also, in the second stage it will produce 1000 Megawatt electric power which is enough for all Baghdad and in the third stage 1500 Megawatt electric power can be produced from it, which will be enough for all Kurdistan.
[Description of Source: Al-Sulaymaniyah Hawlati in Sorani Kurdish -- weekly independent newspaper] from World News Connection