Iraq’s 80,000 b/d Nasiriya oil field restarted production this week following a six-day shut-down due to instability and protests. Operated by state firm Dhi Qar Oil Company, the closure will likely have a small effect on monthly export figures and offers yet another example of how Iraq’s ongoing protests could potentially hinder the all-important oil sector (MEES, 8 November 2019). Nasiriya previously went offline in late December, also due to protests.
The latest shut-down came just a day after the 140,000 b/d capacity Ahdab field in east Iraq operated by Chinese state firm CNPC faced extensive protests from unemployed locals. The field did not shut down entirely, but the incident suggests that demonstrators are increasingly looking to the oil sector as a means of addressing grievances. (CONTINUED - 197 WORDS)
