Islamic State Causes Serious Harm to Iraq Oil Industry - Oil Ministry

© AP PhotoDestruction at Beiji oil refinery during the military operations, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015
Destruction at Beiji oil refinery during the military operations, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
According to Iraqi Oil Ministry, Islamic State actions in Iraq have caused serious harm to Iraqi oil industry stripping the country of up to 400,000 barrels of oil daily.

Estonian soldiers take part in an annual military exercise together with several units from other NATO member states on May 18, 2014 near Voru close to the Estonian-Russian border in South Estonia - Sputnik International
Estonian Military May Join Fight Against ISIL in Iraq
MOSCOW (Sputnik) –  The Iraqi authorities have liberated almost all oilfields captured by the Islamic State (IS) militant group in the country, Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad told Sputnik on Thursday.

"The army and security forces managed to drive the IS out of the Saladin Governorate. At the moment, terrorist groups are controlling only a small amount of developed oilfields in the Nineveh Governorate," Jihad said, adding that IS had other sources of financing apart from oil.

The spokesman said IS was unable to develop oilfields in the Nineveh Governorate as it required technical experience.

According to Jihad, the militant group caused Iraq to lose billions of dollars by selling oil abroad at low prices on the black market.

"The Islamic State destroyed Iraqi oil enterprises and pipelines…causing damages estimated at billions of dollars. Iraq have been losing 300,000-400,000 barrels of oil daily due ti ISIL actions," ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said in a phone call.

Jihad stressed that the Islamic State militants steal oil from captured Iraqi oil fields and sell it at low prices abroad. He also warned that those who buy stolen oil from ISIL would face criminal charges on international level.

IS has been reliant on funds raised from selling crude originating in oil-rich Iraq. Last year, they captured the country's largest oil refinery in Baiji. The Iraqi military reportedly retook the facility earlier in October.

In February, the Pentagon claimed that oil was no longer the main source of IS funds. US officials said that Islamists were now more likely to rely on donations and a "black market program."

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала