Partial operations at Baiji refinery commenced this week for the first time since Islamic State (IS) overran the plant in June 2014 inflicting catastrophic damage (MEES, 26 September 2014). Prior to 2014 Baiji had 310,000 b/d nameplate capacity and produced around a third of Iraq’s gasoline and diesel before the IS takeover.

The restart follows the rehabilitation of the 70,000 b/d Salahuddin-2 unit, oil minister Jabbar al-Luaibi said on 9 September. (CONTINUED - 1328 WORDS)