Iraq’s Kirkuk pushes for $3-5bn refinery

Iraq’s northern oil-rich Kirkuk governorate has revived demands on the central government to honour its previous pledge and construct a refinery at a cost of $3-5 billion, an Iraqi news network reported on Thursday.

Alsumeria News quoted acting chairman of Kirkuk provincial council Ribwar Al Talabani as saying the project has been on the cards since 2007 but has not been executed by the federal oil ministry because of rifts on the project site.

He said a British firm prepared designs for the project in 2007 but it has been frozen due to disagreements ever since.

“The project will cost $3-5 billion…a delegation from the governorate will visit the oil ministry soon to discuss this issue,” he said.

Alsumeria said Iraq’s parliament approved a law in 2013 stipulating the construction of new refining units through the country to ensure petroleum products supply to all provinces. The agency said Kirkuk council accused the oil ministry in 2013 of “lacking seriousness” in the refining project in the governorate.

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