Office of the Iraq Programme Oil for Food

6 September 2000

Oil-for-Food Background Information

Weekly update for the period 26 August - 1 September 2000

In the past week the 661 Committee for Iraq expanded the list of items in the health sector to be processed under the accelerated approval procedures. The expansion comprises around 7,500 line items, in addition to the 3,325 items approved in March this year.

All pharmaceuticals, targeted nutrition supplies, hospital furniture, most of general and specialised medical supplies, most raw and packaging materials used in the local production of drugs and very basic medical equipment and instruments included in the distribution plans are now eligible for "fast track" approval by experts in the Secretariat.

Using this "fast track" process based on lists (see the OIP website for details of the procedure) in the food, health, water/sanitation, education, agriculture and oil sectors, OIP has "notified" the Committee of 743 contracts worth more than $1.7 billion.

In the past week the Committee approved an additional 55 contracts for the humanitarian programme in Iraq. In phases IV to VIII, the Committee has now approved $7.77 billion worth of contracts for humanitarian supplies and put contracts worth $1.55 billion on hold (centre/south of Iraq only). In the oil sector, the Committee has approved 2,090 contracts worth just over $1.09 billion and put 511, worth about $274 million, on hold. The total value of contracts on hold in all sectors is now $1.82 billion as against $8.86 billion approved in all sectors.

During the week to 1 September Iraq exported 17.7 million barrels of oil for revenue estimated around $499 million. Since the current phase eight of the oil-for-food programme began in June this year, Iraq has exported 173.4 million barrels of oil worth more than $4.27 billion.

Last week, the Security Council’s 661 Committee approved the sale of 1.5 million barrels of Kirkuk oil to a Turkish company for the European market. This brings the total of approved contracts to 99 with a volume of over 385 million barrels (230.1 million Basrah Light and 155.7 million Kirkuk). Since the first oil exports under the programme on 10 December 1996, Iraq has exported more than 2,004 million barrels with a value of over $33.2 billion.

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

Oil-for-Food Background Information		Weekly update for the period 26 August - 1 September 2000 In the past week the 661 Committee for Iraq expanded the list of items in the health sector to be processed under the accelerated approval procedures. The expansion comprises around 7,500 line items, in addition to the 3,325 items approved in March this year. All pharmaceuticals, targeted nutrition supplies, hospital furniture, most of general and specialised medical supplies, most raw and packaging materials used in the local production of drugs and very basic medical equipment and instruments included in the distribution plans are now eligible for "fast track" approval by experts in the Secretariat. Using this "fast track" process based on lists (see the OIP website for details of the procedure) in the food, health, water/sanitation, education, agriculture and oil sectors, OIP has "notified" the Committee of 743 contracts worth more than $1.7 billion. In the past week the Committee approved an additional 55 contracts for the humanitarian programme in Iraq. In phases IV to VIII, the Committee has now approved $7.77 billion worth of contracts for humanitarian supplies and put contracts worth $1.55 billion on hold (centre/south of Iraq only). In the oil sector, the Committee has approved 2,090 contracts worth just over $1.09 billion and put 511, worth about $274 million, on hold. The total value of contracts on hold in all sectors is now $1.82 billion as against $8.86 billion approved in all sectors. During the week to 1 September Iraq exported 17.7 million barrels of oil for revenue estimated around $499 million. Since the current phase eight of the oil-for-food programme began in June this year, Iraq has exported 173.4 million barrels of oil worth more than $4.27 billion. Last week, the Security Council’s 661 Committee approved the sale of 1.5 million barrels of Kirkuk oil to a Turkish company for the European market. This brings the total of approved contracts to 99 with a volume of over 385 million barrels (230.1 million Basrah Light and 155.7 million Kirkuk). Since the first oil exports under the programme on 10 December 1996, Iraq has exported more than 2,004 million barrels with a value of over $33.2 billion.
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