Self-sufficiency in oil derivatives next year – ministry

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Next year will see self-sufficiency in oil derivatives thanks to a 5-million-liters leap in the productivity of refineries, a media spokesman for the Iraqi oil ministry said on Monday. “The increase will curb imports of oil derivatives from outside the country,” Asim Jihad told IraqiNews.com, adding all oil derivatives are subsidized by the ministry. Iraq is importing its oil derivatives from two key outlets – one via Kuwait and the other via Iran with the aim of bridging the gap in all types of fuel – in addition to a northern outlet via Turkey. The Iraqi state is spending hundreds of millions of dollars over these imports on an annual basis. Jihad revealed that during the first half of next year all citizens would be provided with plastic cylinders instead of the gas bottles used currently, noting these cylinders are designed in accordance with international standards and are light and transparent so that gas can be seen on one hand and adulteration is eliminated on the other.   AmR (P)/SR 1