The US Department of Defense sent a telegram to the Israel Ministry of Foreign affairs last week, proposing the re-opening of the oil pipeline between Iraq and Israeli oil refineries in Haifa.
The new oil channel would restore the pipeline that ran for hundreds of kilometers between Kirkuk in Iraq and the Haifa Port before the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948. After the end of the British mandate, Iraq stopped the flow of oil to Israel and the pipeline, only eight inches in diameter, was abandoned.
In the telegram, the Department of Defense requested a detailed reconstruction plan from Israeli officials. According to Globes, Israel’s Minister of National Infrastructures Joseph Paritzky is in favor of the project, however consent from the Jordanian government is necessary before plans can move foreword seeing as the pipeline would run through the Kingdom’s territory.
The Jordanian government is against the plan, calling it unrealistic in view of the fact that the cost of repairs will be high and that a long period would be required to re-construct the pipeline, which is now filled with sand.
The new link would take oil from the northern area of Kirkuk and transport it via Mosul to Jordan and then to Israel. According to Israel’s National Infrastructure Ministry, the cost of a 42-inch diameter pipeline between Kirkuk and Haifa would cost approximately $400,000 per kilometer.
Paritzky plans to discuss the pipeline project with the US Secretary of Energy during a possible visit to Washington in September. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
