BAGHDAD, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Iraq's oil industry was in chaos this week after Sunni insurgents threatened tanker truck drivers with death.
The giant Baiji oil refinery 150 miles north of Baghdad has been forced to shut down its operations since last Saturday after insurgents distributed warning leaflets among tanker truck drivers threatening them with death if they continued to ferry oil from the refinery. The drivers took the threats seriously and responded by refusing to work.
The threats and the shutdown came the same day controversial Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi took over as acting oil minister for an initial 30-day period.
The Oil Ministry is trying to get the drivers back on the job, and plans to offer protection for them, a spokesman told CNN.
The Baiji refinery, located in Salaheddin province, daily produces about 8.5 millions liters of gasoline, 7.5 millions liters of diesel and 6.5 millions liters of white oil, CNN said. The refinery is a major source of supply for the Iraqi capital Baghdad, a prime target for the insurgents.
The shutdown was revealed as popular demonstrations were held around Iraq protesting the tripling in the cost of fuel announced by the government, a measure that Chalabi is expected to enforce.
