WASHINGTON — Iraq has increased crude oil exports by more than
10-fold since 2007.
A report by the U.S. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
said that oil exports from Iraq's northern pipeline rose by more than a factor of ten since last July.
The report, saying exports reached 12 million barrels
per month for much of 2008, cited a project to protect the 95-kilometer
pipeline from Kirkuk to the refinery at Baji, Middle East Newsline reported.
"From July 2007 to May 2008, northern crude oil exports have increased
by approximately 91.3 million barrels or more approximately $8.215 billion,"
said the report, basing its revenue estimates on $90 per barrel of oil.
For years, the Kirkuk pipeline was a favorite target of Sunni and other
insurgents. Over the last year, Iraq and the United States have enhanced
protection of the facility and deployed nearly 1,000 soldiers.