Office of the Iraq Programme Oil for Food

26 September 2000

Oil-for-Food Background Information

Update for 26 September 2000

During the week to 22 September 2000 Iraq exported 18.1 million barrels of oil for revenue estimated around $481 million. Since the beginning of phase VIII on 9 June Iraq has exported 220.1 million barrels for revenue of around $5.5 billion.

In the same week, the Security Council’s 661 Committee gave approval for a Swiss company to purchase four million barrels of Kirkuk Crude for the European market.

In phase VIII the Committee has now approved a total of 106 contracts with a volume of over 401 million barrels (237.1 million Basrah Light and 163.9 million Kirkuk Crude). Since the start of the "oil for food" programme on 10 December 1996, Iraq has exported just over 2,050 million barrels with revenue of more than $34.5 billion.

In the week to 22 September, the Committee approved an additional 57 contracts for the humanitarian programme in Iraq. Altogether, in phases IV to VIII, the Committee has now approved over $8.08 billion worth of contracts for humanitarian supplies and put contracts worth just over $1.72 billion on hold (centre/south of Iraq only). In the oil sector the Committee has approved 2,151 contracts worth over $1.11 billion and put 507, worth over $271 million, on hold.

The total value of contracts on hold in all sectors has reached $2 billion. The highest level of holds is in the transport and telecommunications sector with over 45 per cent of all circulated contracts in this sector having been placed on hold, followed by the electricity sector with almost 36 per cent. The level of holds in the water/sanitation, food handling, education and oil industry spare parts and equipment sectors is about 20 per cent for each.

The reasons given by members of the Committee for putting a contract on hold vary: over 45 per cent lack essential technical specifications and another 21 per cent include goods on the so called “1051” list. This refers to Security Council resolution 1051 (1996) which addresses supplies with a potential dual use.
Using the "fast track" process, based on approved lists in the food, health, water/sanitation, education and agriculture sectors, OIP has now "notified" the Committee of 799 humanitarian supply contracts worth more than $1.87 billion. Similarly, in the oil sector, the UN group of experts has approved 49 contracts worth over $34.6 million.

Humanitarian supplies and equipment for the oil industry continued to arrive normally through the three land border points and at the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr.

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Produced for media and public information – not an official United Nations Document
For further information please contact Hasmik Egian, OIP - NY, 1.212.963.4341

Oil-for-Food Background Information		Update for 26 September 2000 During the week to 22 September 2000 Iraq exported 18.1 million barrels of oil for revenue estimated around $481 million. Since the beginning of phase VIII on 9 June Iraq has exported 220.1 million barrels for revenue of around $5.5 billion. In the same week, the Security Council’s 661 Committee gave approval for a Swiss company to purchase four million barrels of Kirkuk Crude for the European market. In phase VIII the Committee has now approved a total of 106 contracts with a volume of over 401 million barrels (237.1 million Basrah Light and 163.9 million Kirkuk Crude). Since the start of the "oil for food" programme on 10 December 1996, Iraq has exported just over 2,050 million barrels with revenue of more than $34.5 billion. In the week to 22 September, the Committee approved an additional 57 contracts for the humanitarian programme in Iraq. Altogether, in phases IV to VIII, the Committee has now approved over $8.08 billion worth of contracts for humanitarian supplies and put contracts worth just over $1.72 billion on hold (centre/south of Iraq only). In the oil sector the Committee has approved 2,151 contracts worth over $1.11 billion and put 507, worth over $271 million, on hold. The total value of contracts on hold in all sectors has reached $2 billion. The highest level of holds is in the transport and telecommunications sector with over 45 per cent of all circulated contracts in this sector having been placed on hold, followed by the electricity sector with almost 36 per cent. The level of holds in the water/sanitation, food handling, education and oil industry spare parts and equipment sectors is about 20 per cent for each. The reasons given by members of the Committee for putting a contract on hold vary: over 45 per cent lack essential technical specifications and another 21 per cent include goods on the so called “1051” list. This refers to Security Council resolution 1051 (1996) which addresses supplies with a potential dual use. Using the "fast track" process, based on approved lists in the food, health, water/sanitation, education and agriculture sectors, OIP has now "notified" the Committee of 799 humanitarian supply contracts worth more than $1.87 billion. Similarly, in the oil sector, the UN group of experts has approved 49 contracts worth over $34.6 million. Humanitarian supplies and equipment for the oil industry continued to arrive normally through the three land border points and at the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr.
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