DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Iraq's future rests on the future of Kirkuk. The province holds at least 13 percent of Iraq's oil reserves, but like the rest of the country, its infrastructure needs massive investment.

Article 140 of the 2005 constitution calls for a referendum in which voters in Kirkuk and others of the disputed territories in the north will decide whether to join Iraqi Kurdistan. The vote itself is controversial, and many experts attribute an increase in violence in Kirkuk to the debate over its future.

United Press International sat down with the Kirkuk Gov. Abdul Rahman Mustafa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the sidelines of the Iraq Development Program's Iraq Oil, Gas, Petrochemical and Electricity Summit. He spoke of the need for investment and the needs of his citizens and all Iraqis, especially facing violence and lack of fuels and electricity.

UPI: What was your goal of the conference, what did you hope to get out of the conference?

Mustafa: After issuance of the investment law and the coming approval of the oil and gas law, this conference is held to invite companies and people interested in the oil and gas business, to give them an idea about these laws and about the investment in Iraq and to introduce the business opportunities to the intended or prospective investors. Also, to show the current status of oil and gas in Iraq and to point out the requirements of the country in these fields.

Q: What about for Kirkuk specifically?

A: Kirkuk is a governorate well-known for oil. It has destroyed infrastructure. The oil facilities and upstream facilities in Kirkuk are old and there is aged equipment. It is supposed to have integrated equipment of refineries and gas equipment, gas facilities, and petrochemicals, all should be integrated systems. But all these things are unavailable now. I presented the requirements for such facilities and our demand for power plants in this conference and in previous conferences. I pointed out the investment opportunities in Kirkuk.

Q: Let’s talk about specifically the fuels problem. What is the extent of the fuel shortage for Kirkuk residents and what would you like to see to address that?

A: Our problem in fuel shortages, we are facing a very big crisis. It’s in the all of Iraq, not just our province. This came from we don’t have any refineries, because there is an old refinery and small refinery but it is not enough for us and is not suitable for our needs for this issue. There is a big refinery in Baiji. We send them the crude oil by the pipelines and they send to us the products oil from the refinery to Kirkuk. These pipes are attacked by terrorists and caused it to stop. We haven’t another source for the products. For that we are facing this problem.

In addition to that there is increasing numbers of vehicles, cars, in Kirkuk, after the liberation of Iraq. They need the fuels. We need the kerosene, we need the gas oil, we need to cover our needs or our peoples needs for these issues.

Q: When do you think this will be resolved?

A: There is a decision from the minister of oil in Baghdad and he promised us; he invited 15 experienced companies to build refineries in Kirkuk and in Karbala and he promised us in the near future they would come to Kirkuk to put the foundations to build this project.

Q: How much electricity are your residents and your businesses and citizens receiving each day?

A: There is nothing the same every day. On average, maybe between 10 and 12 hours a day. But there are days that decrease to six or seven hours. Sometime less than that.

Q: For Iraq, you’re one of the highest.

A: As I told you, it is not always. At such times it is not very hot or very cold. But in the summer or in the winter when it is very cold and very hot, maybe four hours or five hours.

Q: Do you want to get a power plant?

A: There is a plan, yes.

Q: How important is the security issue and what would you suggest needs to be focused on in terms of security?

A: The security is a very important issue. Without security no one will be able to work and to invest in Kirkuk or anywhere else. Our security situation is not very bad. Reality is we have some problems and we’re suffering from some problems where sometimes, but this doesn’t mean our situation in security is bad. Maybe 80 percent of Kirkuk’s area is safe. Maybe 20 percent is not secure.

Q: There is an expectation that violence will increase as the referendum grows closer, the referendum for Kirkuk and the disputed territories. What are you doing to prepare for that?

A: I don’t think there is any relationship between the referendum, between the implementation of Article 140 and terrorist actions. Terrorists implement their criminal actions in all of Iraq and all the world. In Baghdad there is no article 140, in Basra there is no article 140, but there are terrorist actions.

Q: Do you support the referendum being held?

A: Yes.

Q: How are you going to vote? Do you want to join the KRG?

A: Myself, I represent all Kirkuk people. I follow the majority. Whatever they decide, I follow them.

Q: Sure, but you as a member of a democracy, you get to vote …

A: I haven’t any comment about this issue, (smiling, chuckling).

Q: A very serious issue is the fact that there have been a lot of attacks, kidnapping and attacks on prominent members of the government. A number of governors have been murdered recently. Are you worried about that? What are your thoughts as a governor as well?

A: I am a responsible person and in assuming government responsibility, I will not be afraid. I was subjected to many assassination attacks but I was not afraid. Since I’ve accepted to assume responsibility, I should be able to cope with such responsibility and I’m never afraid and I’ll never be afraid. This is a motive for me to work harder and harder to make things more secure and stable.

--

(e-mail: energy@upi.com)