Iraq News

Reconstruction starts at Iraq's biggest oil refinery

Iraq has begun reconstruction work at what was the country's biggest oil refinery before it was damaged by intense fighting between government forces and "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) elements, AFP reported Thursday (December 14th).

The aim is to complete work early next year on one of the units that will produce 70,000 barrels per day at the Baiji complex which is currently shut, said oil ministry spokesman Assem Jihad.

Constructed in 1975 and located 200 kilometres north of Baghdad, the refinery produced between 250,000 and 300,000 barrels a day before ISIS seized it in June 2014.

Government forces retook the facility and the city of Baiji in October 2015 during fierce clashes with the extremists but the severe damage meant that the refinery remained closed.

"The rehabilitation will allow the distribution of refined products for the north of the country and reduce our imports," said Jihad.

In 2016, Baiji was declared a disaster zone by the national parliament.

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