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Iraq Agrees to Extend Oil Pipeline through Jordan
[An Nahar] Iraq and Jordan agreed on Monday to extend an oil pipeline to the Red Sea city of Aqaba for the export of Iraqi crude, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said after a fleeting visit to Amman.

"It was agreed to extend an oil pipeline across Jordan to Aqaba to export Iraqi oil and satisfy Jordan's crude requirements," the Iraqi premier told journalists, saying this would "end the transportation of oil using tankers."

The new pipeline would be capable of pumping one million barrels per day, Jordan's official news agency Petra said.

Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah al-Nsur, who met with Maliki, praised the deal, saying "we need each other, and Jordan is important for Iraq's trade and the export of its oil."

Iraq also agreed to "bring into effect a 2009 agreement to establish a free trade zone between the two countries," and "to increase the capacity of (its) gas pipeline" "to secure Jordan's Iraqi natural gas needs," according to Petra.

Jordan relies on imports for 95 percent of its energy needs. A rise in fuel prices by up to 53 percent in November prompted violent protests in which three people were killed and more than 70 injured.

Posted by: Fred 2012-12-25
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=358689