> Saudi crude burn volumes edged up counter-seasonally in September to 660,000 b/d, marking the first year-on-year increase this year (see chart). But significantly lower burning during the key summer months means that the country’s direct burning of crude in its power plants remains on track to fall in 2017 for the second consecutive year. MEES estimates that the average figure for 2017 will come in at 470,000 b/d versus 497,000 b/d for 2016 (see data, MEES, 24 November).
> By contrast, Iraq, long the region’s #2 crude burner, reported that it eliminated crude burn in September (see chart), marking the culmination of Baghdad’s success in curbing burn volumes since July. (CONTINUED - 221 WORDS)
