Iraq's largest oil refinery shut by bombing

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

Iraq's largest oil refinery was shut down on Saturday after militants carried out a bomb attack and set it on fire, the governor of Salahuddin province said.

The militants killed four people and planted bombs at production units for kerosene and benzene at the refinery in the town of Baiji, a former al Qaeda stronghold about 112 miles north of Baghdad, Governor Ahmed al-Jubouri said.

"There is a big fire in the refinery and the refinery has completely stopped," Jubouri told Reuters.

Overall violence in Iraq has dropped sharply since the peak of sectarian conflict in 2006-07, but attacks still occur on a daily basis.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-iraq-oil-refinery-idUSTRE71P0IM20110226

[Shadowflash]

1. Uh oh!

I smell another fifty cent a gallon gas price spike!

[Wilms]

2. Mission Accomplished II?

I mean, keeping that oil in the ground was a big part of the plan. :shrug:

[jakeXT]

3. good for the greenback, just like 1973

[underpants]

4. Gunmen Attack Iraq’s Largest Oil Refinery

Source: NY Times

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s largest oil refinery was crippled by a predawn attack on Saturday after gunmen stormed the vast complex, killed one engineer and set off several bombs.

The attack shut down parts of the Baiji Refinery, halting the production of about 150,000 barrels per day of oil derivatives and raising questions about the security of Iraq’s underdeveloped and antiquated refineries.

It was the second insurgent attack this month against Iraq’s crucial oil sector, which drives about 90 percent of all government revenues in a country whose economy is still reeling from years of war and insurgency.

According to officials from the refinery and provincial government, gunmen armed with pistols with noise suppressors broke into the refinery at about 4:30 a.m. and attacked the few security guards and engineers who had been working overnight. They then planted eight bombs inside and outside, blowing up a pipeline.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/world/middleeast/27iraq.html?hp

[wtmusic]

5. "reeling from insurgency"

What a load of crap. Surprised to read that out of NYT.

[1776Forever]

6. Here's more on it: Iraq’s biggest oil refinery shut down after attack

Iraq’s biggest oil refinery shut down after attack

http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/116647/20110226/iraq.htm

Gunmen have attacked and bombed Iraq's largest oil refinery, Baiji, shutting down the facility and killing at least five employees.

"Armed men entered the refinery and shot dead two of the engineers," said Abdul Qader al-Saab, the facility's deputy chief.

Iraq "Then they detonated bombs at one unit, the al-Shamal unit, of the refinery, which represents 25 percent of the refinery's production. In the morning, we came to put out the fire, which erupted as a result of the bombs."