IRAQ - Gas Pipeline To Kuwait.

Before its August 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Iraq used to supply the emirate with associated gas from the southern field of Rumaila. That was through a 40- inch, 170-km pipeline which went on stream in 1986 with a capacity of 200 MCF/day, linking Rumaila to a pumping station in northern Kuwait. In 1987, its capacity was raised to 400 MCF/ day, as Kuwaiti demand was strong. KPC in 1989 wanted a further expansion of the pipeline in order to raise its purchases. There was hope that, eventually, gas supplies from southern Iraq would enable Kuwait to utilise the full capacity of its LPG export plants, which was more than 5m t/y.

The gas was sold to KPC at $1/m BTU and used to feed some of Kuwait's power stations and LPG plants. Its operations stopped shortly after Iraq's invasion, because Kuwait's oil production and export plants were no longer able to function in view of the total embargo. It is likely that the pipeline would be used again in the event of major political change in the region and a resumption of normal relations between the two neighbours.

The Northern Gas System, on stream from 1983, was based on associated gas from Kirkuk, Jambur and Bai Hassan oilfields. This was smaller but more integrated, or self-contained, than the Southern System. It also produced sulphur. It provided LPG to Baghdad and other cities as well as dry gas and sulphur to local industries and power plants.

The system was damaged by the war in January 1991 and the Kurdish rebellion in March of that year. The main components of this system were the following: - Some 250 miles of gathering and transmission lines built by Dodsal of India. - Eight compressor stations and a 1.3 million t/y LPG plant built by Mitsubishi, which in 1981 was delayed because of Iranian raids but finally went on stream in early 1984. - A fractionator, distillation units and other equipment supplied by Ingeco Laing.

The gas field at Jambur went on stream in 1983 with a 200 MCF/day capacity. But it could only be used to supply dry gas in emergencies. The Trans-Iraq Pipeline: A 900-kilometre national pipeline to supply dry gas was being built in 1990 across the country from the south to the Turkish border in the north. Eventually, the northern section was to link up with the southern end of Turkey. Ankara and Baghdad have agreed to extend this and supply Turkey with 10 BCM/year of Iraqi gas.

The pipeline's first phase, commissioned in November 1988, had the capacity to supply up to 240 MCF/day to Baghdad in a 48-inch pipe running from West Qurna oilfield, including a 234-km line from Nasiriyah to the capital. The second phase was to run north from Baghdad to the Turkish border, and was intended to be on stream in 1993. The third phase was to link up with the Russian gas supply system in southern Turkey.

This pipeline was crucial to the planned supply of industrial feedstocks, as well as energy, throughout Iraq. It was targeted by the US-led allied forces during the first phase of the war in January 1991, because "existing sections could have supplied plants producing chemical weapons", said one Western military expert at the time. Indeed, all of Iraq's petrochemical and chemical plants were bombarded, together with oil refineries, the other important industries, electric power plants, etc.