Iraq: Iraq Oilfield Output Suspended After IS Fighting - Oil Minister


Feb 2, 2015 | Mustafa Mahmoud, Reuters
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Production at an oilfield near the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk remained suspended on Monday after incurring severe damage during a weekend attack by Islamic State insurgents, Iraq's oil minister said.

Kurdish forces recaptured a small crude oil station at the Khabbaz oilfield 20 km (12 miles) southwest of Kirkuk on Saturday, a day after IS fighters had seized it.

"What happened on Friday was a real threat to the oil installations, but the situation now is stable and under control," Adel Abdel Mehdi told reporters during a visit to the oilfield.

"There is severe damage to the field which has halted production and damage also to the installations," he said.