Kuwaiti terminal hinders Iraqi ambitions in oil production

THI QAR / IraqiNews.com: Two economic experts warned against the dangers that the Kuwaiti Mobarak terminal poses to the Iraqi economy, pointing that it will “strangle Iraq and hinders its ambitions in increasing oil production and exports.” Expert Bassam al-Jabiri told IraqiNews.com that “Iraqi endeavor to increase its oil production and planning an expanded strategy depends on the ability of Fao Port to absorb the new production capacities to reach 9 million b/d. “Kuwaiti terminal will strangle Iraq and make us produce what we cannot export”, he added. Kuwait announced last April the start of building Mobarak terminal, after one year of Iraqi declaration to build its port in Fao area. Iraqi criticized the Kuwaiti project, while governmental and MPs regarded it a “destroying Iraqi ports” and called the Kuwaitis “to change its location in a  manner that will not affect Iraqi interests”. Journalist Hassoun Baji said that the Kuwaiti terminal will cancel the role of Iraqi ports. “Kuwait does not need this new terminal, but there is a strategic plan to economically strangle Iraq by canceling its existing ports.” RM (TI)/SR 57