US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4241

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004241 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2015 
TAGS: ECON, ENRG, EPET, MOPS, MARR, PGOV, PINS, IZ, Petrolium, Energy Sector 
SUBJECT: MGIZ02: STATUS OF OIL PRODUCTION/REFINING CAPACITY 
IN THE AFTERMATH OF BLACKOUT 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 4230 
 
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Tom Delare for reasons 1.4 ( 
b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) As of 1230 hours October 15, officials at the 
Ministry of Oil reported that the October 14 blackout 
(reftel) has had limited effect on Iraq's oil production. 
The October 12 explosion at the al-Fatah Crossing had already 
interrupted refining at Bayji, although refining has since 
resumed.  Daura refinery is working at 41% capacity; Basrah 
refinery is still being assessed.  End Summary. 
 
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Southern Oil Flowing 
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2.  (C) Officials at the South Oil Company (SOCO) reported 
October 15 that the October 14 electrical blackout had 
briefly interupted production and exports overnight October 
14-15.  Southern production resumed the morning of October 15 
and crude oil is now being pumped northward to feed the 
Baghdad-Daura refinery.  Southern oil is also available for 
export. 
 
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Refining Picture is Mixed 
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3.  (C) The Bayji refinery in northern Iraq did not shutdown 
during the blackout because plant managers were able to 
maintain its electrical supply from other sources.  The 
October 12 explosion at the al-Fatah bridge, however, had 
already destroyed the pipelines and interrupted natural gas 
and crude supplies.  Crude oil has subsequently been 
re-routed through pre-existing alternate pipelines under the 
river, and limited production has resumed.  The fire at 
al-Fatah is still burning, but USG contractor Parsons and MoO 
officials are already studying how to re-route the natural 
gas pipelines to resume supply of the mobile units at the 
Bayji power plant. 
 
4.  (C) The Daura refinery near Baghdad maintains its own 
generators capable of supplying 4 megawatts of power. 
Production at the Daura Refinery was thus not interrupted as 
a result of the blackout, despite the plant suffering a 
temporary loss of electricity between 2130 hours and 2330 
hours October 14.  It is currently processing some 46,000 
Bbls/day or 41% of its 110,000 Bbls/day capacity. 
 
5.  (C) The Basrah refinery suffered an electricity 
interruption.  MoO officials in Baghdad have not yet reported 
on the status of the plant. 
 
Khalilzad