Iraq is ready to restart one of three units at the Baiji refinery in Salahuddin province, which was badly damaged by Islamic State jihadists in June 2014. A unit which had 70,000 b/d crude distillation capacity before the destruction is now expected to process 60,000 b/d.

“The rehabilitation of the Salahuddin-1 unit is complete, it is ready now to produce… kerosene, diesel and gasoline,” Khalaf Abdul-Hussein, head of the oil ministry team rehabilitating the plant tells China’s Xinhua news. Statements from other ministry officials indicate that it is Salahuddin-2 set to resume operations imminently, utilizing parts from Salahuddin-1. (CONTINUED - 399 WORDS)