Jordan to resume importing Iraqi oil

AMMAN, Jordan – Jordan’s energy minister said Thursday his country expects to resume Iraqi oil imports in the coming days, ending a four-year hiatus sparked by the U.S.-led war that toppled Saddam Hussein, the official Petra news agency reported.

Khaled al-Shraydeh said the supply would eventually cover Jordan’s daily need of 100,000 barrels and would be trucked across Jordan’s desert border from northern oil fields in Kirkuk accompanied by Iraqi security.


“The Iraqi government said it was ready to start supplying us with oil, which we expect will happen within the next few days,” al-Shraydeh was quoted by Petra as saying.

Iraqi officials said the deal was in the works for a long time and awaited only the hiring of a security force to guard the trucks. Apparently until now they could find no one who would take the job.

AP