Iraq Minister of Oil Jabbar al-Luaibi has announced the restart of the Haditha refinery and reported progress on repair work at three other refineries damaged during the occupation by Islamic State (IS) of a swathe of northern and western Iraq from early 2014.

This year Iraqi forces and their allies have driven IS out of most of their formerly-controled Iraqi territory, leaving the Baghdad government to survey the damage and plan for recovery. Rehabilitation of wrecked refineries is a priority to meet anticipated increases in local demand for transport fuels and electricity. (CONTINUED - 858 WORDS)