In Kirkuk, Oil Firm Struggles Back to Feet

24 April 2003 Until two weeks ago, Iraq’s North Oil Co. (NOC) was responsible for production capacity of more than 1 million barrels per day, centering on the giant Kirkuk oil field. Output came to an abrupt halt two weeks ago, when northern Iraq fell to US-led forces. And now, NOC appears to have been battered almost out of existence: Its headquarters are destroyed, its data is lost, and equipment…

Iraqi Officials Take Initiative Restarting Oil

23 April 2003 The first Iraqi oil production since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime is set to restart next week from the northern Kirkuk complex, but would be limited to supplying the domestic market in terms of crude for refineries and natural gas for power stations, according to a senior Iraqi official. The plans show Iraqi officials taking the initiative on this and other aspects of the war-damaged oil…

Early Power Play Points to Iraq Challenges

22 April 2003 Intriguing power plays erupting in postwar Iraq underline the conundrum faced by Opec when it meets later this week to plot out a production strategy that ministers hope will stave off a price collapse before the group has to make room for Iraqi oil exports. But further delays to the establishment of an interim Iraqi administration to oversee the short-term rehabilitation of the country’s oil sector could…