Earlier today, a ship berthed at the port of Umm Qasr in southern Iraq
and began unloading the first consignment of a contract for $456,000 worth
of equipment for Iraq's oil industry. The equipment, for overhauling oil
pipelines, was purchased from China under the terms of Security Council
resolution 1175 which authorised Iraq to import up to $300 million worth of
spare parts and equipment.
In the week to January 8 the Office of the Iraq Programme received 7
additional oil spare parts contracts for a total value of $8.5 million. This
brings the total number of contracts for oil industry equipment received by
OIP to 464 for a total value of $254.7 million. The Committee has approved
241 contracts for $134.1 million. During last week, the 661 Committee
neither approved nor released from hold any oil sector contract but placed
another eight on hold worth $8.9 million - the total on hold is now 152
worth $54.4 million.
The oil overseeers approved a further four contracts for the sale of
Iraqi oil. Six contracts remain pending the arrival of supporting documents.
So far 68 contracts have been approved for the export of 253.7 million
dollars.
|
Country
|
Barrels
|
Crude
|
Destination
|
|
China
|
5,100,000
|
Basrah Light
|
USA and Far East
|
|
UK
|
3,100,000
|
Basrah Light
|
USA and Far East
|
|
UK
|
1,200,000
|
Basrah Light
|
Far East
|
| |
2,000,000
|
Kirkuk
|
Europe
|
|
Switzerland
|
1,800,000
|
Kirkuk
|
Europe
|
|
Total:
|
13,200,000
|
|
|
During the past week there were nine loadings of oil totalling 14.3
million barrels with an estimated value of $130 million dollars. The revenue
generated from the beginning of Phase V at current prices is about $630
million.
In the week to 8 January, the 661 Committee approved the first contract
for humanitarian supplies under Phase V. The contract is for $7.6 million
worth of sugar to be imported from Vietnam. The OIP has received and is now
processing a second contract application from Vietnam for a similar amount
of sugar.
Under Phase IV, the OIP received a further 11 contracts for humanitarian
supplies and submitted 5 contracts to the 661 Committee. There were 5 new
contract approvals under Phase IV bringing the total approved to 618 worth
$1.52 billion with 36 on hold worth $93.3 million.
Arrivals of humanitarian supplies continued normally throughout the
reporting period. There was heavy traffic at the port of Umm Qasr with
33,699 tonnes of wheat, 12308 tonnes of rice, 650 tonnes of tea, 23370
tonnes of sugar, 3759 tonnes of cooking oil and 1491 tonnes of powdered
infant formula unloaded during the past week.
