Iraq oil, power, worker attacks continue

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- There have been nearly 600 pipeline attacks in Iraq since March 2003, though recent security strategies have allowed additional flow in the northern pipeline.

Attacks are also increasing in the power sector, especially among workers being targeted, according to an assessment from March 2003 to Nov. 17, 2007, made for United Press International by an expert in threats and vulnerabilities to the energy sector worldwide.

Iraq's oil pipelines have been attacked at least 576 times, according to the expert, who analyzes data for UPI on the condition of anonymity, and oil fields and wells 45 times.

There have also been 69 attacks on refineries, 508 attacks on tanker trucks, 6 on maritime tankers and one on a train tanker car.

At least 635 oil workers have been killed, wounded, kidnapped (and either released or killed) or attempted kidnapped.

Iraq's dual northern pipelines, which begin in Kirkuk and take an elongated route to Turkey, have been the major target. It was built with a total capacity of around 1.7 million barrels per day, but regular attacks since the war has kept is mostly out of commission.

Recent repairs and a new security plan has allowed it to start working again, part of the reason Iraq has been able to increase recent production from a little more than 2 million bpd to nearly 2.4 million.

At least 1,211 workers in Iraq's power sector have been targeted like their colleagues in oil.

There have been 651 attacks on distribution and transmission lines and towers, 66 attacks on thermal power stations and five on hydroelectric power stations and 13 on power substations.

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Ben Lando, UPI Energy Editor

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(blando@upi.com)