CHANCES OF OIL FLOW TO HAIFA ARE RECEDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23288, 24 June 1950, Page 6

CHANCES OF OIL FLOW TO HAIFA ARE RECEDING

AMMAN. Arab political circles believe that the chances of oil flowing again to Haifa, in Israel, are rapidly receding. Authoritative sources refuse to comment on reports that the 12-inch Iraq petroleum pipeline linking Kirkuk oilfields to Haifa is to be removed and the refineries in Haifa Bay arc to be “scrapped” because rust has deteriorated their efficiency. The reports added that with the newly completed supplementary 16-inch pipeline from Kirkuk to Tripoli, in the Lebanon, pumping to that port at present a daily average of over 14,500 tons, that means about. 5.500.000 tons a year. Iraq's annual oil exports in the years 1939-1947 averaged 4,000,000 tons. This excess of oil exports from Iraq to the Mediterranean seaboard over her prewar average will be greatly increased when the construction of another pipeline to Banyas. in Syria, is completed. The projected line is 31-32 inches and is planned to carry as much as 13.000.000 tons a year. Iraq, it is recalled, derives 4/- per ton of oil exported in royalties, or about 8/- in sterling currency until the recent sterling devaluation, when it was raised to 11/3. The Iraqi people have already realised. Arab political circles here add, that more oil is being exoorted today from Kirkuk oilfields to Tripoli than was pumped to Haifa and -Tripoli together before the Arab-Jewish hostilities began in 1948 when the combined ceiling pumping barely aggregated 12,000 tons daily. In addition, (he recent oil strikes near Basra on the Persian Gulf are reported to be showing good output prospects. Political pressure on Iraq to allow oil to flow again to Haifa is therefore likely to produce negative effects if pushed too far. the same circles here believe.— Reuter.