Death threats prompt largest refinery to close

Every day without production costs 20 million US dollars

Baiji (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Iraq's largest oil refinery in Baiji has been shut down by a strike of tanker drivers who do not want to return to work because of death threats by guerrilla groups.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry said the shutdown of the refinery was costing 20 million US dollars a day and was endangering the electrical power supply in the north of the country.

The ministry added that production should return to normal within a few days. "Efforts are being made to convince the drivers to return to work," a spokesman said. The Baiji refinery normally produces 8.5m litres (2.2m gallons) of petrol per day, along with 7.5m litres of diesel.

The death threats and consequent standstill of distribution came shortly after a steep rise in the price of petrol, ordered by the government at the beginning of the December.

• iraq
• economy
• death
• threats
• oil
• cisterns
• production
• power
• supply