Najaf refinery’s production up by 71-100% in 2008

NAJAF / IraqiNews.com: The Najaf refinery’s production has jumped by an amazing 71-100 percent in 2008, compared to 2007, according to figures announced by the refinery. “The refinery’s production of kerosene reached 90.23 million liters in 2008, 100 percent higher than its production in 2007,” a statement released by the refinery and received by IraqiNews.com quoted Engineer Ahmed Abdeljabbar Razj as saying. On October 7, 2006, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil inaugurated the refinery, which it said will meet the province’s needs for oil derivatives. Najaf, about 160 km south of Baghdad, has an estimated population of 900,600 in 2008, though this has increased significantly since 2003 due to immigration from abroad. The city is one of the holiest cities of Shiite Islam and the center of Shiite political power in Iraq. SS (P) 1