Office of the Iraq Programme Oil for Food

14 June 1999

Oil-for-Food Background Information

Weekly Update

Secretary-General Approves Distribution Plan for Phase VI

The Secretary-General has approved the distribution plan for phase VI of the oil for food programme. The plan was submitted by the Government of Iraq at the beginning of last week and proposes spending just over three billion dollars on food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies - including $300 million on oil industry spare parts and equipment.

Copies of the Secretary-General's letter to the Security Council, the letter to the Permanent Representative of Iraq from the OIP Executive Director, Benon V. Sevan, and details of the distribution plan are available on the OIP website.

Mr. Sevan leaves New York today for Iraq where he will meet senior officials of the Government and United Nations staff working on the oil for food programme. Mr Sevan will also visit the three northern governorates where the United Nations implements the programme on behalf of the Government.

One focus of Mr Sevan's visit will be the prospects for increasing Iraq's ability to export oil. A group of oil experts has been in Iraq for the past week as part of the preparations for a new report to the Security Council on the requirements of the oil industry due at the end of this month.

In the week from 5 June to 11 June, Iraq exported 9.2 million barrels of oil with an estimated value of $136 million. In phase VI, Iraq has exported 14.6 million barrels for an estimated revenue of $216 million. So far, 65% of the oil exported has been lifted from Ceyhan in Turkey.

The Oil Overseers and the 661 Committee have approved a further 12 contracts for the export of Iraqi oil bringing the total approved to 46 for a volume of 261.9 million barrels. (145.7m Basrah Light, 116.2m Kirkuk).

Mr Sevan has today advised the Chairman of the Security Council's 661 Committee and the Permanent Representative of Iraq that the total oil revenues available under phase III for the purchase of humanitarian supplies by the Government of Iraq have been fully committed. Accordingly, the OIP will no longer accept contracts for phase III and will be returning to the submitting mission any contracts which have been received but not yet circulated to the Committee. (see the attached table for cumulative statistics on the oil for food programme)

Humanitarian supplies continue to arrive in Iraq. Arrivals in the past week include: 38 thousand tonnes of wheat, 51 thousand tonnes of rice, three thousand seven hundred tonnes of soap and detergents, ultra sound units, antibiotics, surgical equipment, refrigeration gas (for the health sector), spare parts of power stations, broiler hatching eggs, school desks, garbage trucks and chlorine gas cylinders.

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For further information please contact Hasmik Egian, OIP - NY, 1.212.963.4341

Oil-for-Food Background Information		Weekly Update Secretary-General Approves Distribution Plan for Phase VI The Secretary-General has approved the distribution plan for phase VI of the oil for food programme. The plan was submitted by the Government of Iraq at the beginning of last week and proposes spending just over three billion dollars on food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies - including $300 million on oil industry spare parts and equipment. Copies of the Secretary-General's letter to the Security Council, the letter to the Permanent Representative of Iraq from the OIP Executive Director, Benon V. Sevan, and details of the distribution plan are available on the OIP website. Mr. Sevan leaves New York today for Iraq where he will meet senior officials of the Government and United Nations staff working on the oil for food programme. Mr Sevan will also visit the three northern governorates where the United Nations implements the programme on behalf of the Government. One focus of Mr Sevan's visit will be the prospects for increasing Iraq's ability to export oil. A group of oil experts has been in Iraq for the past week as part of the preparations for a new report to the Security Council on the requirements of the oil industry due at the end of this month. In the week from 5 June to 11 June, Iraq exported 9.2 million barrels of oil with an estimated value of $136 million. In phase VI, Iraq has exported 14.6 million barrels for an estimated revenue of $216 million. So far, 65% of the oil exported has been lifted from Ceyhan in Turkey. The Oil Overseers and the 661 Committee have approved a further 12 contracts for the export of Iraqi oil bringing the total approved to 46 for a volume of 261.9 million barrels. (145.7m Basrah Light, 116.2m Kirkuk). Mr Sevan has today advised the Chairman of the Security Council's 661 Committee and the Permanent Representative of Iraq that the total oil revenues available under phase III for the purchase of humanitarian supplies by the Government of Iraq have been fully committed. Accordingly, the OIP will no longer accept contracts for phase III and will be returning to the submitting mission any contracts which have been received but not yet circulated to the Committee. (see the attached table for cumulative statistics on the oil for food programme) Humanitarian supplies continue to arrive in Iraq. Arrivals in the past week include: 38 thousand tonnes of wheat, 51 thousand tonnes of rice, three thousand seven hundred tonnes of soap and detergents, ultra sound units, antibiotics, surgical equipment, refrigeration gas (for the health sector), spare parts of power stations, broiler hatching eggs, school desks, garbage trucks and chlorine gas cylinders.
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