Oil production in Iraq is at its highest level since the US-led invasion of 2003, reaching 2.4 million barrels a day, thanks largely to improved security measures in the north. Produção petrolífera do Iraque está em seu nível mais alto desde os E.U.-invasão liderada de 2003, atingindo 2,4 milhões de barris por dia, em grande parte graças ao aperfeiçoamento das medidas de segurança no norte do país.
The country’s Oil Ministry will shortly invite international oil companies to bid for contracts to help Iraq to boost output at its investment-starved “super-giant” oilfields. Petróleo Ministério do país em breve convidar as empresas petrolíferas internacionais a oferta de contratos para ajudar o Iraque a reforçar o seu investimento na produção de sedentos "super-gigante" oilfields.Production is expected to pass the prewar level of 2.6 million barrels by the end of the year, and Hussain al-Shahristani, the Iraqi Oil Minister, told The Times that he expected production to reach six million barrels a day within four years. A produção está prevista para passar o prewar nível de 2,6 milhões de barris até ao final do ano, e Hussain al-Shahristani, o ministro do petróleo iraquiano, The Times disse que ele esperava produção de atingir seis milhões de barris por dia dentro de quatro anos.
The International Monetary Fund predicts that Iraq’s economy, boosted by rising oil revenues, will grow by more than 7 per cent this year, compared with 1.3 per cent last year. O Fundo Monetário Internacional prevê que a economia do Iraque, impulsionada pela subida das receitas do petróleo, vai crescer em mais de 7 por cento este ano, em comparação com 1,3 por cento no ano passado.
A Umnew report from the US Inspector-General Novo relatório de os E.U. Inspector-Geralsays that the Iraqi Government will receive a $15 billion (£7.5 billion) windfall to help its reconstruction efforts thanks to soaring oil prices. Diz que o governo iraquiano vai receber US $ 15 mil milhões (7,5 mil milhões de libras esterlinas) aleatórios para ajudar a sua reconstrução esforços graças a explosão dos preços do petróleo.
Mr al-Shahristani said that the Government would not wait for Iraq’s fractious parliament to approve long-delayed legislation providing a legal framework for foreign investment in the oil industry. Senhor al-Shahristani disse que o governo não iria esperar para o Iraque do divisório parlamento para aprovar longa atrasado legislação fornecendo um quadro jurídico para o investimento estrangeiro na indústria petrolífera.The Government is to invite foreign companies to help Iraq to develop new fields. O Governo está a convidar as empresas estrangeiras para ajudar o Iraque a desenvolver novos campos.
Jeroen van de Veer, the chief executive of the Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell, confirmed yesterday that it was “very interested” in new opportunities in Iraq, which sits on the world’s third largest proven oil reserves. Jeroen van de Veer, o executivo-chefe da companhia petrolífera anglo-holandesa Shell, confirmou ontem que ele era "muito interessado" em novas oportunidades no Iraque, que tem assento no mundo da terceira maior reserva de petróleo provada.“We have made various proposals to the Government,” he said. "Fizemos várias propostas ao governo", disse.
The company is understood to be interested in a gas field called Akkas, in Anbar province near the border with Syria, to produce supplies for export to Europe. A empresa está interessada em ser entendido como um gás chamado campo Akkas, na província Anbar perto da fronteira com a Síria, para produzir bens para exportação para Europa.Eastern Anbar was until recently one of the most violent parts of the country, although tribal militias have ensured greater security. Oriental Anbar era até há pouco tempo um dos mais violentos do país, embora milícias tribais ter garantido uma maior segurança.
Shell, which had worked in Iraq for decades until the 1970s, is also thought to be interested in building an export terminal in Basra for supercooled, liquefied natural gas for export to other parts of the Middle East. Shell, que tinha trabalhado no Iraque por décadas até a década de 1970, também está pensado para estar interessado em construir um terminal de exportação de Basra supercooled, gás natural liquefeito para exportação para outras partes do Médio Oriente.A number of other Western oil companies are interested in opportunities in Iraq. Uma série de outras empresas petrolíferas ocidentais estão interessados em oportunidades no Iraque.They include Total and the Norwegian company DNO, which has a drilling programme in the Kurdish region of Iraq. Elas incluem a Total ea empresa norueguesa DNO, que tem um programa de perfuração na região curda do Iraque.
Mr al-Shahristani suggested that the competition would be intense. Senhor al-Shahristani sugeriu que a concorrência seria intenso.“Everybody in the world, more than 45 companies, have approached us and shown a very keen interest in working with us — the Chinese, Russians, Indians, Brazilians,” he said. "Todo mundo no mundo, mais de 45 empresas, têm abordado nós e demonstrou muito interesse em trabalhar conosco - os chineses, russos, indianos, brasileiros", disse.
Reliable economic statistics remain almost impossible to collect in Iraq, but US officials said that the Government had cut inflation to 5.5 per cent from 60 per cent a year ago. Fiáveis estatísticas económicas permanecem quase impossível reunir no Iraque, mas E.U. funcionários disseram que o governo havia cortado a inflação para 5,5 por cento a partir de 60 por cento de um ano atrás.
The Iraqi dinar has strengthened against the dollar. O dinar iraquiano tem reforçado em relação ao dólar.Property prices are rising in safer parts of Baghdad. Propriedade preços estão subindo no seguro partes de Bagdá.But unemployment remains stubbornly high at 18 per cent, and 40 to 60 per cent of the population are employed for less than 15 hours a week. No entanto, o desemprego permanece persistentemente elevado em 18 por cento, e de 40 a 60 por cento da população estão empregados há menos de 15 horas por semana.
Foreign investment remains minimal apart from the $3.75 billion paid by three consortiums last year for mobile telephone licences. O investimento estrangeiro continua mínima para além dos US $ 3,75 bilhões pagos no ano passado por três consórcios de licenças de telefonia móvel.
The US military is trying to prime the economy by directing contracts worth more than $100 million a month to Iraqi businesses, generating an estimated 42,000 jobs. Os E.U. militar está tentando primordial da economia por dirigir contratos valem mais de US $ 100 milhões por mês para as empresas iraquianas, gerando uma estimativa de 42000 postos de trabalho.
On the streets of Baghdad and other cities it is now possible to see new building projects, bustling markets and other signs of economic regeneration for the first time since the war, but confidence remains fragile. Nas ruas de Bagdá e outras cidades é agora possível ver novos projectos imobiliários, movimentado mercados e outros sinais de recuperação económica, pela primeira vez, depois da guerra, mas a confiança continua frágil.
Jalil Khalid, 39, a store manager in central Baghdad, said that business was gradually improving but added: “Every time there’s any stability and people start coming back another bomb goes off and they vanish again.” Jalil Khalid, 39, gerente de uma loja no centro de Bagdá, disse que a empresa estava a melhorar gradualmente, mas acrescentou: "Cada vez há qualquer estabilidade e as pessoas começam a voltar outra bomba vai desligar e eles desaparecem novamente."
Oil company business as usual Empresa petrolífera business as usual
Blood and oil in Ireland Sangue e petróleo na Irlanda
We hear about a looming energy shortage and we see high fuels prices. Ouvimos falar de uma escassez ameaçadora energia e combustíveis, vemos alta dos preços.The media talks endlessly about global warming, but when do we hear about what goes on “behind the scenes” of oil and gas extraction projects? A mídia fala interminavelmente sobre o aquecimento global, mas quando é que vamos conhecer o que se passa "nos bastidores", de extração de petróleo e gás projetos?
Brazil has discovered huge new petroleum reserves in its south that could turn the country into one of the biggest oil producers in the world, the government and its state-controlled oil company announced Thursday. If one of the deposits turns out to be as vast as it appears, Brazil will be in the same league “as the Arab countries, Venezuela and others,” the senior minister in charge of the cabinet, Dilma Rousseff, said.O Brasil tem enorme descobriu novas reservas petrolíferas no seu sul que poderia transformar o país em um dos maiores produtores de petróleo do mundo, o governo eo seu estado-controlada empresa petrolífera anunciou quinta-feira. Se um dos depósitos gira para fora para ser tão grande como Que parece, o Brasil vai estar na mesma liga ", como os países árabes, Venezuela e outros", o idoso ministro estará a cargo do Gabinete, Dilma Rousseff, disse.
Petrobras, Brazil’s national oil company, said in a statement that exploration of its Tupi field, offshore Sao Paulo state, revealed it could produce up to eight billion barrels of light oil and natural gas. Petrobras, do Brasil empresa petrolífera nacional, afirmou numa declaração que a exploração do seu campo Tupi, offshore São Paulo state, revelou que poderia produzir até oito mil milhões de barris de óleo leve e gás natural.
It said that find, along with another potential field still being explored farther south, could propel Brazil “among the countries with the biggest oil and gas reserves in the world.” Ele disse que encontrar, juntamente com outro campo potencial ainda a ser explorado mais longe sul, poderia impulsionar o Brasil "entre os países com as maiores reservas de petróleo e gás no mundo."
The head of Petrobras, Jose Sergio Gabrielli, told a media conference in Rio de Janeiro that Brazil’s total reserves could now place it “between Nigeria and Venezuela.” O chefe da Petrobras, José Sergio Gabrielli, disse a uma conferência de imprensa Rio de Janeiro que o Brasil total da reserva poderiam agora colocá-lo "entre a Nigéria e Venezuela."
Shares in the company soared on the news, closing 14.57 percent higher at 93.40 reais on the Sao Paulo stockmarket. Ações da empresa subiram na notícia, fechando em 14,57 por cento superior 93,40 reais sobre o São Paulo stockmarket.
Petrobras’s previous stated reserves, given at the end of 2006, were the equivalent of 11.46 billion barrels of oil. Petrobras's anteriores afirmou reservas, dado no final de 2006, foram o equivalente a 11,46 bilhões de barris de petróleo.
The Tupi find alone could boost that by 50 percent. O Tupi encontrar sozinho poderia impulsionar que em 50 por cento.
Petrobras operates the Tupi area, of which it holds 65 percent. Petrobras opera o Tupi área, da qual detém 65 por cento.British energy group BG holds a 25 percent share in the field and Portugal’s Petrogal-Galp Energia holds 10 percent. Energia grupo britânico BG detém uma quota de 25 por cento da área e de Portugal-Petrogal da Galp Energia detém 10 por cento.
Petrobras also holds the lion’s share of interest in the other field being tested. Petrobras também detém a maior parte dos juros no outro campo a ser testado.
The Brazilian government said no more parts of the new field would be licensed out until a full evaluation was in. It said this was in “the public interest.” O governo brasileiro disse não mais partes do novo campo seria licenciada para fora até que uma avaliação completa foi Pol. Ele disse isso foi no "interesse público".
The discoveries are a significant fillip for Brazil, coming at a time that the price of oil is sitting at a record high and heading towards 100 dollars per barrel. As descobertas são uma forma significativa para o Brasil, a aproximar-se a um tempo em que o preço do petróleo está sentado em um registro alto e caminhando para 100 dólares por barril.
An analyst at the Brazilian Center for Infrastructure, Adriano Pires, agreed that “this is good news.” Um analista no Centro Brasileiro de Infra-estrutura, Adriano Pires, considerou que "esta é uma boa notícia."
But he noted that the Tupi field, 250 kilometres (155 miles) offshore, lies in very deep water, which will make extraction “very expensive.” Mas ele observou que o campo Tupi, 250 quilômetros (155 milhas) offshore, situa-se muito em águas profundas, o que permitirá extração "muito caro".
At best, he said, production would begin in around four or five years’ time Na melhor das hipóteses, ele disse que iria começar a produção em cerca de quatro ou cinco anos de tempo
“It’s only viable if oil prices stay high,” he said. "É só viável se os preços do petróleo permanecer alta", disse.
The Brazilian state holds a 55.7 percent of the shares with voting rights in Petrobras, giving it effective control of the energy giant, which currently pumps out nearly two million barrels of oil a day. O Estado brasileiro detém uma participação de 55,7 por cento das ações com direito a voto na Petrobras, dando-lhe o controlo eficaz da energia gigante, que atualmente as bombas quase dois milhões de barris de petróleo por dia.
I mention Lindsey Williams’ revelations in a few articles on the phony “ Menciono Lindsey Williams "revelações em alguns artigos sobre as falsas"Peak Oil Peak Oil” scam promoted by CIA agent Michael Ruppert and the Highway Robber Barrons known as American Oil companies. "Scam promovida pelo agente da CIA Michael Ruppert e os Highway Robber Barrons conhecido como American Oil empresas.Lindsey discovered from top oil company executives in the early 1970s, that there is enough oil under Gull Island alone (Prudhoe Bay, Alasaka) to meet all of the energy needs of the United States for the next 200 years . Lindsey descoberta de cima empresa petrolífera executivos no início dos anos 1970, que há petróleo suficiente no âmbito Gull Island sozinho (Prudhoe Bay, Alasaka) para satisfazer todas as necessidades energéticas dos Estados Unidos para os próximos 200 anos.American oil companies had drilled and tapped Gull Island in 1973, yet they have not pumped one drop of oil out of those vast oil fields to send down the Alaskan pipeline to American consummers. American empresas petrolíferas haviam perfurado e tocou Gull Island, em 1973, ainda que não tenham uma gota de petróleo bombeado para fora desses vastos campos petrolíferos para enviar estabelece o Alasca gasoduto para consummers americano.It is one of the best kept secrets in the oil industry. É um dos segredos mais bem guardados na indústria petrolífera.There is no Energy Crisis. Não existe nenhuma Energy Crisis.There are only government liars and oil company robber barrons deceiving us at every turn..Ken] Existem apenas mentirosos governo e sociedade petrolífera robber barrons enganar-nos em cada turno .. Ken]
Subject: “The Energy Non Crisis” by Lindsy Williams Assunto: "A energia não Crisis", por Lindsy Williams From: DAN De: DAN Date: Tue, May 22, 2007 Date: Tue, 22 de maio de 2007 To: Editor Para: Editor
Ken,
Here is a collection of videos about the “The Energy Non Crisis” by Lindsey Williams. Aqui está uma coleção de vídeos sobre a "A Crise da Energia não" por Lindsey Williams.He also has a book out by the same name. Ele também tem um livro para fora com o mesmo nome.Feel free to send this to friends and family. Sinta-se livre para enviar este para amigos e familiares.
SALT WATER AS FUEL, Energy from tap water- whatever next? An Engine that runs off GRAVITY? Well - YES! SAL DA ÁGUA NO COMBUSTÍVEL, Energia de água da torneira, qualquer que seja a próxima? Um motor que funciona fora GRAVIDADE? Bem - YES!Check it out. Confira.
Have you seen the sensational TV-news video running around YouTube? Você já viu o sensacional TV-video news correr ao redor YouTube?A test tube full of salt water is blasted with radio waves and ignites with an orange flame that powers a small sterling engine. Um teste tubo cheio de água salgada é blasted com ondas de rádio e inflama com uma laranja chama que alimenta um pequeno motor de excelente.Power from salt water, the most abundant substance on earth — Eureka! Poder de água salgada, a substância mais abundante na Terra - Eureka! http://www.motortrend.com/features/editorial/112_0711_technologue/ Http://www.motortrend.com/features/editorial/112_0711_technologue/
AMERICA’s elder statesman of finance, Alan Greenspan, has shaken the White House by declaring that the prime motive for the war in Iraq was oil. AMÉRICA do ancião estadista de financiamento, Alan Greenspan, abalou a Casa Branca, declarando que o principal motivo para a guerra no Iraque foi petróleo.
In his long-awaited memoir, to be published tomorrow, Greenspan, a Republican whose 18-year tenure as head of the US Federal Reserve was widely admired, will also deliver a stinging critique of President George W Bush’s economic policies. Em suas memórias há muito esperada, que será publicado amanhã, Greenspan, um republicano com 18 anos de mandato como chefe de os E.U. Federal Reserve foi amplamente admirado, também irá entregar um picadas crítica do presidente George W Bush's políticas económicas.
However, it is his view on the motive for the 2003 Iraq invasion that is likely to provoke the most controversy. No entanto, é o seu ponto de vista sobre o motivo para a invasão do Iraque 2003 que é susceptível de provocar a mais polêmica.“I am saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows: the Iraq war is largely about oil,” he says. "Fico triste que é politicamente inconveniente para reconhecer aquilo que todos sabem: a guerra do Iraque é largamente sobre petróleo", diz ele.
Greenspan, 81, is understood to believe that Saddam Hussein posed a threat to the security of oil supplies in the Middle East. Greenspan, 81, é entendida a crer que Saddam Hussein representava uma ameaça para a segurança do abastecimento de petróleo no Oriente Médio.
Britain and America have always insisted the war had nothing to do with oil. A Grã-Bretanha ea América têm sempre insistiu a guerra não tinha nada a ver com o petróleo.Bush said the aim was to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and end Saddam’s support for terrorism. Bush disse que o objectivo era o de desarmar o Iraque de armas de destruição maciça de Saddam e terminar o apoio ao terrorismo.
Australia has admitted for the first time that securing the supply of oil is a key motive for its involvement in the US-led war in Iraq.A Austrália tem admitiu pela primeira vez que a garantia do fornecimento de petróleo é um dos principais motivos para o seu envolvimento nos levaram os E.U.-guerra no Iraque.
Brendan Nelson, the defence minister, said “energy security” was one of the main priorities behind his country’s support for the war, which is unpopular among Australians. Brendan Nelson, o ministro da defesa, disse que "a segurança energética", foi uma das principais prioridades para trás o apoio do seu país para a guerra, que é impopular entre os australianos.
His remarks add weight to war protesters’ arguments that the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 was amied at grabbing the country’s oil supplies rather than a bid to counter the threat posed by Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction, which later proved to be non-existent. Seus comentários adicionar peso à guerra manifestantes' argumentos que os E.U.-2003 foi amied agarrando no abastecimento de petróleo do país, em vez de um lance para combater a ameaça representada por Saddam Hussein armas de destruição em massa, que mais tarde Revelou-se inexistente.
Nelson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Australia’s priorities were set out in a defence and security review being released on Thursday ”and resource security is one of them”. Nelson disse à Australian Broadcasting Corporation que Australia's prioridades foram definidas em uma defesa e segurança revisão sendo libertado na quinta-feira "e recursos de segurança é uma delas".
US ‘prestige’E.U. 'prestígio'
He said: “Obviously the Middle East itself, not only Iraq, but the entire region is an important supplier of energy, oil in particular, to the rest of the world. Ele disse: "É óbvio que o Médio Oriente propriamente dito, não apenas no Iraque, mas toda a região é um importante fornecedor de energia, o petróleo, em particular, para o resto do mundo.
”… it’s extremely important that Australia take the view that it’s in our interests, our security interests, to make sure that we leave the Middle East, and leave Iraq in particular, in a position of sustainable security.” "… É extremamente importante que a Austrália é de opinião de que é do nosso interesse, os nossos interesses de segurança, para garantir que nós deixamos o Médio Oriente, e deixar o Iraque em particular, em condições de segurança sustentável".
Nelson also said it was important to support the “prestige” of the US and UK. Nelson também disse que era importante apoiar o "prestígio" do Reino Unido e os E.U..
“We’re also there to support our key ally - that’s the United States of America - and we’re there to ensure that we don’t have terrorism driven from Iraq which would destabilise our own region,” he said. "Também estamos lá para apoiar o nosso aliado-chave - that's the United States of America - e estamos lá para garantir que não têm impulsionado o terrorismo do Iraque, que iria desestabilizar a nossa própria região", disse.
Howard criticisedHoward criticou
His comments contrast with those made by John Howard, the Australian prime minister, on the eve of the Iraq invasion in Frebruary 2003 when he denied the war was linked to oil. Seus comentários contraste com aqueles feitos por John Howard, o primeiro-ministro australiano, em vésperas da invasão do Iraque em 2003, quando ele negou Frebruary a guerra estava ligado ao petróleo.
John Howard denied the war John Howard negou a guerra was linked to oil in 2003 [AFP] Estava ligada ao petróleo, em 2003 [AFP]
He said at the time: “It [the war] is about the danger to Australia if countries like Iraq continue to have chemical and biological weapons, and those weapons get into the hands of international terrorists - that fundamentally is what this is about.” Ele disse na época: "Ela [a guerra] é sobre o perigo para a Austrália se países como o Iraque continuar a ter armas químicas e biológicas, e as armas chegar às mãos dos terroristas internacionais -, que é basicamente o que está em causa."
The opposition Labor Party, which wants to withdraw Australia’s troops from Iraq, said the government’s admission contradicted its statements before the invasion. A oposição Labor Party, que pretende retirar da Austrália tropas do Iraque, disse que o governo da admissão contradiziam as suas declarações antes da invasão.
Kevin Rudd, the opposition leader, said on Thursday: “When Mr Howard was asked back in 2003 whether this war had anything to do with oil, Mr Howard said in no way did it have anything to do with oil. Kevin Rudd, líder da oposição, disse na quinta-feira: "Quando o Sr. Howard foi perguntado voltar em 2003 se esta guerra tinha nada a ver com o petróleo, o senhor disse Howard em nada fez isso tem nada a ver com o petróleo.
“This government simply makes it up as it goes along on Iraq.” "Este governo simplesmente torna-se, uma vez que vai ao longo sobre o Iraque."
China ‘threat’China 'ameaça'
Meanwhile, John Howard said on Thursday that China’s rapid military expansion risked causing greater instability in the region. Entretanto, John Howard disse na quinta-feira que a China's militar rápida expansão arriscaram causando uma maior instabilidade na região.
“The pace and scope of its military modernisation, particularly the development of new and disruptive capabilities such as the anti-satellite missile, could create misunderstandings and instability in the region,” he said at the launch of the new defence paper. "O ritmo eo âmbito da sua modernização militar, especialmente o desenvolvimento de novas capacidades e perturbador, como o anti-míssil satélite, poderia gerar equívocos e instabilidade na região", disse ele no lançamento do novo papel da defesa.
Beijing has overtaken Japan as Australia’s top trading partner and Canberra has been reticent to comment on China’s military and economic development. Pequim tem ultrapassado Japão como parceiro comercial da Austrália topo e Canberra foi reticente ao comentar militar da China e do desenvolvimento económico.
But with Washington viewing Canberra’s close relationship with Beijing with some concern, the document launched by Howard brings his government into closer step with Japan and the US - both partners with Australia in security pacts. Mas com Washington visualização Canberra's estreita relação com Pequim com alguma preocupação, o documento lançado por Howard traz em seu governo mais próximo passo com o Japão e os E.U. - ambos os parceiros com a Austrália em segurança pactos.
Howard, who has committed Australia’s military to a $43bn build-up, said Canberra had buried the “self-defeating” idea that Australia’s military should be based on home defence. Howard, que cometeu militares da Austrália para um $ 43bn build-up, disse que Canberra tinham enterrado o "auto-derrotando" ideia de que o militar da Austrália deverá basear-se em casa defesa.
“It needs to be able to defend our mainland and approaches in the unlikely event these ever come under direct military threat. "Ele precisa ser capaz de defender o nosso continente e abordagens no evento improvável estas nunca vir a estar sob ameaça militar direta.
“But it must also be capable of conducting substantial operations in our immediate region, whether alone or as the leader of a coalition, and of making meaningful military contributions as a member of coalitions further abroad.” "Mas ela deve também ser capaz de realizar operações substanciais na nossa região imediata, sozinho ou como o líder de uma coalizão, e de fazer contribuições significativas militar como membro do coligações mais longe."
China has announced the cancellations of the debt owed from Iraq to the Chinese government and have promised to aid the reconstruction of the country and help rebuild its economy. China anunciou o cancelamento da dívida do Iraque com o governo chinês e ter prometido ajuda para a reconstrução do país e ajudar a reconstruir a sua economia.
But not everything is as it seems as the Chinese government intend on striking a deal with Iraq on … you guessed it, oil. Mas nem tudo é como parece que o governo chinês pretende em flagrante um acordo com o Iraque sobre… você adivinhou ele, o petróleo.
Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, is currently in Beijing for talks with Hu Jintao, the Chinese President, and is the first visit by an Iraqi head of state since 1958. Presidente iraquiano, Jalal Talabani, está actualmente em Pequim para conversações com Hu Jintao, o presidente chinês, e é a primeira visita de um chefe de Estado iraquiano desde 1958.
The deal is expected to focus on a $700m contract that was signed before the downfall of Saddam Hussein to develop an Iraqi oilfield. A operação está prevista para focalizar um $ 700m contrato que foi assinado antes da queda de Saddam Hussein para desenvolver um campo petrolífero iraquiano.The Chinese also hope to expand the contract to allow further oil discoveries, as just 10% of Iraq has been surveyed for oil. Os chineses também esperamos expandir o contrato para permitir novas descobertas de petróleo, enquanto apenas 10% do Iraque foi fiscalizada por petróleo.
Oil is big business for China, the trade is worth over $50bn to them and around 60% of China’s oil is imported from the region. O petróleo é um grande negócio para a China, o comércio tem um valor superior a US $ 50bn para eles e cerca de 60% do petróleo da China é importada da região.
Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said: “China has always been supportive and has participated in the rebuilding of Iraq. Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros porta-voz Qin Gang disse: "A China sempre foi favorável e tem participado na reconstrução do Iraque.
“We will reduce or forgive Iraq’s debt on a large scale, and help it to train people in the fields of economics, electrical power, diplomacy and management. "Vamos reduzir ou perdoar a dívida iraquiana em grande escala, e ajudá-lo a formação de pessoas nas áreas da economia, a energia elétrica, diplomacia e gestão.We hope Iraq can restore stability, safety and development as soon as possible,” Qin told a news conference. Esperamos que o Iraque possa restaurar a estabilidade, a segurança eo desenvolvimento, o mais rapidamente possível ", disse Qin de notícias conferência.
I have learned recently that Mike Ruppert was taken seriously ill in Venezuela and is now recuperating in Canada.Tenho aprendido recentemente que Mike Ruppert foi levado gravemente doente na Venezuela e agora está recuperando no Canadá.It’s very sad to hear of Mike’s predicament and wish him a full and speedy recovery.É muito triste ao ouvir de Mike's predicamento e desejar-lhe uma plena e rápida recuperação.I suspect that Mike has for some time now realised that he is caught up in a web of intrigue which goes far beyond anything he ever dreamed of when he ’signed up’ to poularise the myth of Peak Oil.Desconfio que Mike já há algum tempo já percebeu que ele é apanhados numa teia de intrigas que vai muito para além de qualquer coisa que ele nunca sonhou quando ele "se inscreveu 'para poularise o mito de Peak Oil.
‘Crossing the Rubicon’is a critical part of the official mythology."Atravessar o Rubicão"é uma parte crítica da mitologia oficial.
I have good reason to suspect the hand of John M. Deutch behind Mike Ruppert’s transition from pioneer of 9/11 Truth to purveyor of Peak Oil mythology.Tenho boas razões para suspeitar da mão de John M. Deutch trás Mike Ruppert da transição do pioneiro do 9 / 11 Truth a purveyor do Peak Oil mitologia.It’s no great secret that Mike made a life-long enemy of Deutch when he exposed CIA drug running during Deutch’s tenure as head of that organisation.Não é grande segredo que Mike fez um longo da vida do inimigo Deutch quando expostos CIA droga correr durante Deutch da posse como chefe dessa organização.
As a non-executive director of Raytheon, Deutch has benefited personally from the rewards associated with the massive increase in arms sales, as a result of the illegal wars in Afghanistan & Iraq.Como não-diretor executivo da Raytheon, Deutch tem beneficiado pessoalmente dos benefícios associados com o aumento de vendas de armas, como resultado das guerras ilegais no Afeganistão e Iraque.However, his personal financial profit from Raytheon pales into insignificance when compared with the five fold increase in the stock price of Schlumberger, where he has been on the board of directors since 1997 (the year before I left Schlumberger after 19 years; the last three and a half years being based in the NeoCon capital, Houston Texas).No entanto, o seu lucro financeiro de Raytheon pales em insignificância, quando comparado com o aumento de cinco vezes o preço das ações da Schlumberger, onde ele esteve no conselho de administração desde 1997 (no ano anterior Saí Schlumberger após 19 anos, os últimos três Anos e meio, sendo baseado no NeoCon capital, Houston Texas).
The price of oil in 1999 bottomed at $9.81 per barrel; a figure that was considered to be far too low to sustain an appropriate level of investment in the industry.O preço do petróleo em 1999 fundo de US $ 9,81 por barril, um valor que foi considerado ser demasiado baixos para assegurar um nível adequado de investimentos no setor.The US oil industry was also concerned that if Iraqi oil came back on full stream any time soon, it could depress prices even further.Os E.U. indústria petrolífera foi igualmente preocupado com o facto de se petróleo iraquiano voltou em plena stream qualquer momento em breve, ela poderia diminuir ainda mais os preços.This would not only have a serious negative effect on the oil industry but would also be detrimental to the flow of the US$ in the international financial markets; thereby reducing the ability of major oil producing countries to purchase US goods & services.Isto não só ter um sério impacto negativo sobre a indústria petrolífera, mas também seria prejudicial para o fluxo de os E.U. $ nos mercados financeiros internacionais, reduzindo assim a capacidade dos principais países produtores de petróleo para a compra de bens e serviços E.U..With the Clinton/Gore regime showing little enthusiasm for addressing these issues, the Neo-Cons saw the window of opportunity to change the political landscape with the forthcoming (2000) presidential election.Com a Clinton / Gore regime mostrando pouco entusiasmo para abordar estas questões, o Neo-Cons viu a janela de oportunidade para mudar o cenário político com a próxima eleição presidencial (2000).Taking their lead from Zbigniew Brzezinski’s 1997 book, ‘The Grand Chessboard’ , the Neo-Con think-tank known as ‘The Project for the New American Century’ produced their blueprint for an aggressive US foreign policy in their September 2000 report titled, ‘Rebuilding America’s Defenses – Strategy, Forces & Resources for a New Century’ .Tomada de conduzir os seus Zbigniew Brzezinski livro de 1997, "The Grand Chessboard", o Neo-Con de reflexão conhecido como "O Projeto para o New American Century" produzido seus esboço para um agressivo E.U. política externa no seu relatório intitulado Setembro 2000 , 'Reconstruir America's Defenses - Estratégia, Forças e Recursos para um Novo Século ".
Once in office, Dick Cheney commissioned a report on behalf of his oilfield buddies (Cheney was CEO of Halliburton from 1995 until being elected/appointed vice-President in 2000) titled, ‘Strategic Energy Policy Challenges for the 21st Century’ .Uma vez no cargo, Dick Cheney encomendado um relatório, em nome do seu campo petrolífero amigos (Cheney foi CEO da Halliburton a partir de 1995 até ser eleito / nomeado vice-presidente em 2000) intitulado, "Strategic Energy Policy Desafios para o Século 21".The report was supposedly produced by ‘An independent Task Force, sponsored by the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University and The Council on Foreign Relations’ .O relatório foi produzido por supostamente 'independente Uma Task Force, patrocinado pelo James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy da Rice University e The Council on Foreign Relations ".One of the participants in the discussions leading to the production of this report was ‘Kenny boy’ Lay; none other than the now disgraced (and supposedly deceased) ex-CEO of ENRON and major contributor to the Bush/Cheney 2000 campaign fund.Um dos participantes nos debates conducentes à elaboração do presente relatório foi 'Kenny boy "Lay; nenhum diferente do que passou disgraced (e supostamente falecido) ex-CEO da ENRON e dos principais contribuintes para o Bush / Cheney 2000 campanha fundo.Another of the signatories of this report was Thomas F. McLarty, Vice-Chairman of Kissinger McLarty Associates, listed as ‘an international strategic advisory firm’.Outro dos signatários deste relatório foi Thomas F. McLarty, vice-presidente da Kissinger McLarty Associates, listados como "uma empresa internacional consultivos estratégicos".An Independent Task Force?Um Independent Task Force?Need I say more?Necessidade digo mais?
However, one of the lesser known but most significant participants in the production of this document was one Matthew Simmons, President of Simmons & Company International, a specialised energy investment bank.No entanto, uma das menos conhecidas, mas mais significativo participantes na elaboração deste documento foi um Matthew Simmons, presidente da Simmons & Company International, um banco especializado energia investimento.Simmons is also a member of the National Petroleum Council and Bush/Cheney Energy Transition Advisory Committee and past Chairman of the National Ocean Industries Association.Simmons também é membro do Conselho Nacional de Petróleo e Bush / Cheney Energia Transição Comité Consultivo passado e presidente do Conselho Nacional do Oceano Industries Association.Whilst Colin Campbell takes the credit for re-awakening interest in the work of Dr. Marion King Hubbert (he didn’t like the name Marion, so he had everyone address him as ‘King’), Matthew Simmons, who admits to first reading Campbell’s hypothesis in 1996, was instrumental in translating the basic tenets of Hubbert’s depletion theory into an investment context.Embora Colin Campbell assume o crédito para voltar a despertar interesse no trabalho do Dr. King Hubbert Marion (ele não gostou do nome Marion, de modo que ele tinha todos endereço ele como "King"), Matthew Simmons, que admite a primeira leitura Campbell's hipótese, em 1996, foi instrumental em traduzir os princípios básicos de Hubbert's esgotamento teoria em um investimento contexto.All that remained was to get the principles of the theory into the mass consciousness.Tudo o que permaneceu foi o de obter os princípios da teoria para a massa consciência.A strategy that would be absolutely critical in softening the public reaction to the growing realisation that Weapon’s of Mass Destruction would never be found in Iraq; as admitted by Paul Wolfowitz in 2003 that the myth of WMD’s was created for political expediency (link: www.truthout.org/docs_03/053103A.shtmlUma estratégia que seria absolutamente crítico em amolecer a reação pública à crescente compreensão de que a Arma de Destruição Maciça nunca seriam encontradas no Iraque, como admitido por Paul Wolfowitz, em 2003, de que o mito de ADM's foi criado por políticos conveniência ( Link: www.truthout.org/docs_03/053103A.shtml
Consequently, it was essential that the American public were initiated into the theory of ‘Peak Oil’ as rapidly as possible.Por isso, foi necessário que a opinião pública americana foram iniciados na teoria do "Peak Oil", o mais rapidamente possível.Only Mike Ruppert knows the detail of the circumstances which lead to his infamous interview with Matthew Simmons on August 18th, 2003.Apenas Mike Ruppert conhece os detalhes das circunstâncias que levam a sua famosa entrevista com Matthew Simmons em 18 de agosto de 2003.The reality is that this date was the turning point for Mike Ruppert; by early 2004 Mike had turned his attentions away from exposing the fraud of 9/11, focusing instead on promoting and popularising the theory of ‘Peak Oil’.A realidade é que essa data foi o ponto de viragem para Mike Ruppert; início de 2004 por Mike tinha virado seu atenções longe de expor a fraude de 9 / 11, incidindo vez na promoção e vulgarização da teoria do "Peak Oil".As a direct result of his outstanding work on 9/11, the majority of his acolytes followed Mike blindly into the very plausible but selectively simplistic theory of ‘Peak Oil’ .Como resultado direto de seu notável trabalho em 9 / 11, a maioria dos seus acolytes Mike seguiu cegamente na muito plausível, mas selectivamente simplista teoria do "Peak Oil".By encouraging Ruppert to incorporate the concept of ‘Peak Oil’ into ‘Crossing the Rubicon’, Simmons was able to ensure that the concept of ‘Peak Oil’ went ‘mainstream’, particularly amongst the 9/11 skeptic community, within a matter of months.Ao incentivar Ruppert a incorporar o conceito de "Peak Oil" em "Atravessar o Rubicão", Simmons foi capaz de garantir que o conceito de "Peak Oil" passou "mainstream", especialmente entre os 9 / 11 skeptic comunidade, dentro de um assunto de Meses.The subliminal message being that even if the events of 9/11 don’t stand up to scrutiny and the attack on Iraq had been somewhat less than legitimate, these events were a necessity if we (the gas guzzling USA) are to retain our oil dependent life-style … ‘cos ultimately, we the (USA) come first; although the gentlemen of AIPAC & the ADL might have other priorities … but more on that particular issue another time!A mensagem subliminar sendo que, mesmo se os eventos de 9 / 11, não resistem a um exame minucioso e do ataque ao Iraque tivesse sido um pouco menos do que legítimos, estes acontecimentos eram uma necessidade, se nós (o gás guzzling E.U.A.) são para manter o nosso petróleo Dependentes estilo de vida… 'cos afinal, estamos a (E.U.A.) vir em primeiro lugar, embora os senhores do AIPAC & a ADL pode ter outras prioridades… mas mais sobre esta questão específica outra vez!
Deutch, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, is a serious playmaker; a talent that Euan Baird, Andrew Gould’s predecessor as CEO of Schlumberger, would have been well aware of in selecting him to serve as a non-executive Director, despite the fact that there was a serious cloud over the legality of his activities and behaviour while head of the CIA, thanks largely to the tenacious investigative work of a guy by the name of … Mike Ruppert. It was reported that Mike Ruppert, single-handedly, cost CIA Director John Deutch his guaranteed appointment as Secretary of Defense after confronting him at Locke High School with hard facts about CIA drug-dealing (President Clinton pardoned Deutch on his last day in office).Deutch, um membro do Council on Foreign Relations, é um grave playmaker; um talento que Euan Baird, Andrew Gould's predecessor como CEO da Schlumberger, teria sido bem consciente de si na seleção para servir como um director não executivo, Apesar do fato de que havia um grave nuvem sobre a legalidade das suas actividades e do comportamento enquanto chefe da CIA, em grande parte graças ao trabalho de uma tenaz investigação guy pelo nome de… Mike Ruppert. Foi relatado que Mike Ruppert, single - Handedly, custo director da CIA, John Deutch sua nomeação como garantido Secretário da Defesa após a confrontar-lo em Locke High School com hard factos sobre o consumo de droga que tratam da CIA (Presidente Clinton perdoou Deutch em seu último dia em funções).Based upon the circles in which they move, it is unthinkable that Deutch and Simmons (also a member of the CFR), would not have crossed each others paths on numerous occasions but if any confirmation were needed that these two major players have had considerable direct contact, look no further than an organisation called ‘Resources for the Future’ , where both Deutch and Simmons serve as Board Members!Basear-se nos meios em que se move, é impensável que Deutch e Simmons (também membro do CFR), não teria atravessado cada outros caminhos, em numerosas ocasiões, mas se houver confirmação fosse necessário que estes dois grandes jogadores tiveram considerável direta Contacto, procure não mais do que uma organização chamada "Recursos para o Futuro", onde ambos Deutch Simmons e servir como Board deputados!Deutch’s membership the CFR, his previous membership of the intelligence community, coupled with his Phi Beta Kappa connections, would have been more than enough to ‘arrange’ for the highest profile 9/11 antagonist, to become the populariser of Peak Oil, either wittingly or otherwise!Deutch da filiação do CFR, a sua anterior adesão da inteligência da comunidade, juntamente com o seu Phi Beta Kappa conexões, teria sido mais do que suficiente para "arranjar" a melhor perfil 9 / 11 antagonista, para se tornar o populariser de Peak Oil, Wittingly quer ou não!
As an aside, it is interesting to note that Deutch was invited to be the Phi Beta Kappa orator at Harvard in June 2005, delivering a speech to recent PBK graduates during which he questioned the wisdom of retaining US forces in Iraq.Como um lado, é interessante notar que Deutch foi convidado para ser o orador Phi Beta Kappa em Harvard, em Junho de 2005, entregando a um discurso recente PBK diplomados durante o qual foi posto em dúvida a sensatez de conservar E.U. forças no Iraque.Co-incidentally, this speech was delivered exactly one month prior to the London bombings.Co-aliás, este discurso foi entregue exactamente um mês antes do London bombardeamentos.In 2006, Deutch then chaired the Independent Task Force established by the Council on Foreign Relations to produce the report on ‘National Security Consequences of US Oil Dependency’ , a role in which he was able to bring fellow Schlumberger Board Member Linda G. Stuntz to the attention of the CFR.Em 2006, então presidida Deutch o Independent Task Force estabelecido pelo Council on Foreign Relations para produzir o relatório sobre "Segurança Nacional Conseqüências do E.U. Oil Dependência", um papel em que ele foi capaz de trazer bolseiro Schlumberger Conselheiro Linda G. Stuntz para A atenção do CFR.
As a further aside, Jamie Gorelick, another Schlumberger Board Member and member of the CFR, was instrumental in ensuring that the 9/11 Commission stayed ‘on message’ … but more on her another time.Como mais um aparte, Jamie Gorelick, outro Schlumberger Membro Administração e membro do CFR, foi instrumental em garantir que o 9 / 11 da Comissão suspendeu 'na mensagem'… mas mais sobre ela outra vez.
All that said, I do not advocate a continuation of ninety million barrel per day consumption … but who do you think owns all the patents on alternative energy?Tudo o que disse, eu não defendo a manutenção de noventa milhões de barris por dia consumo… mas quem pensa que detém todas as patentes sobre energias alternativas?The oil & gas industry has much to answer for but by touting and perpetuating the myth of peak oil, my ex-colleagues in the oil industry are laughing all the way to the bank, cashing in stock options that lay moribund for almost twenty years but have in the past three years, provided them with access to wealth beyond their wildest imagination.A indústria do petróleo e do gás tem muito a resposta, mas por touting e para perpetuar o mito de pico do petróleo, os meus ex-colegas da indústria petrolífera estão rindo até o banco, cashing em stock options que estabelecem moribundos de quase vinte anos, mas Têm nos últimos três anos, deu-lhes o acesso à riqueza para além das suas selvagens imaginação.Just take a look at the obscene profitability reported by all the major oil companies since 2003.Basta dar uma olhada no obsceno rentabilidade relatados por todas as grandes companhias de petróleo desde 2003.If any of the big boys seriously believed in Peak Oil they would be investing at much higher levels in new seismic exploration, new drilling techniques, reservoir management and stimulation processes, as well as the construction of new drilling rigs.Se qualquer um dos grandes sério acreditavam em Peak Oil lhes seria investir em níveis muito mais elevados na nova exploração sísmica, novas técnicas de perfuração, reservatório de gestão e incentivo processos, bem como a construção de novas plataformas de perfuração.In fact, they could easily double or even treble the current level of investment and still report record profitability.De fato, eles poderiam facilmente duplicar ou mesmo triplo do actual nível de investimento e ainda relatório recorde rentabilidade.Why don’t they do it?Porque não se faz isso?Because the theory of Peak Oil has no traction within the industry.Porque a teoria do Peak Oil não tem tração dentro da indústria.Why don’t they argue against it?Porque não se argumentar contra ela?Would you, when you are reaping the phenomenal benefits in ‘Shareholder Value’?Deseja que, quando você está colhendo os benefícios em fenomenal "Acionista Valor '?
Schlumberger and Halliburton, the two major global oilfield services companies, come closest to declaring their interest in perpetuating the Peak Oil mythology by sponsoring Colin Campbell’s Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO); not to be confused with an ASBO … although some might see some synergy between the two!Schlumberger e Halliburton, as duas principais empresas fornecedoras de serviços globais campo petrolífero, chegou perto de declarar seu interesse em perpetuar a Peak Oil mitologia patrocinando Colin Campbell's Associação para o Estudo do Peak Oil (ASPO), não deve ser confundido com um ASBO… embora Alguns podem ver algumas sinergias entre os dois!
Meanwhile, Matthew Simmons & John Deutch make out like bandits, thanks primarily to the success in getting Mike Ruppert to take up the cause and popularise a theory that would have been far more difficult to implant in the wider consciousness, without his participation.Entretanto, Matthew Simmons & John Deutch fazer fora como bandidos, graças principalmente ao sucesso na obtenção Mike Ruppert para ocupar a causa e popularizar uma teoria que teria sido muito mais difícil de implantar em toda a consciência, sem a sua participação.Mike’s reward is poor health and life on the run.Mike's recompensa é pobre da saúde e da vida sobre a correr.
I have this vision of John Deutch, wearing a wry smile as he monitors the SLB stock price while thumbing through his copy of ‘Crossing the Rubicon’, saying to himself, “Thanks Mike, you owed me.”Eu tenho essa visão de John Deutch, vestindo uma wry sorriso como ele controla o SLB preço das ações, enquanto thumbing através de sua cópia de "Atravessar o Rubicão", dizendo que ele próprio, "Thanks Mike, você devidos mim".
The above observations and comments are summarised from my forthcoming book ‘Out of Darkness’ , scheduled to be published Spring 2008.O acima observações e comentários são resumidos do meu próximo livro "Out of Darkness", programado para ser publicado Spring 2008.
Between 100,000 and 300,000 barrels a day of Entre 100.000 e 300.000 barris por dia deIraq Iraque’s declared oil production over the past four years is unaccounted for and could have been siphoned off through corruption or smuggling, according to a draft American government report. 'S declarados produção do petróleo ao longo dos últimos quatro anos é de desaparecidos e poderia ter sido siphoned off através de corrupção ou de contrabando, de acordo com um projecto de relatório governo americano.
Using an average of $50 a barrel, the report said the discrepancy was valued at $5 million to $15 million daily. Usando uma média de US $ 50 por barril, o relatório disse que a discrepância foi avaliada em US $ 5 milhões para R $ 15 milhões por dia.
The report does not give a final conclusion on what happened to the missing fraction of the roughly two million barrels pumped by Iraq each day, but the findings are sure to reinforce longstanding suspicions that smugglers, insurgents and corrupt officials control significant parts of the country’s oil industry. O relatório não fornece uma conclusão definitiva sobre o que aconteceu com os desaparecidos fração dos cerca de dois milhões de barris por dia bombeado pelo Iraque, mas os resultados são certificar-se de longa data reforçar as suspeitas de que contrabandistas, insurgentes e funcionários corruptos controlo partes significativas do país' S indústria petrolífera.
The report also covered alternative explanations for the billions of dollars worth of discrepancies, including the possibility that Iraq has been consistently overstating its oil production. O relatório também abrangidos explicações alternativas para os milhares de milhões de dólares de discrepâncias, incluindo a possibilidade de que o Iraque tem sido consistentemente exagerar a sua produção petrolífera.
Iraq and the State Department, which reports the numbers, have been under relentless pressure to show tangible progress in Iraq by raising production levels, which have languished well below the United States goal of three million barrels a day. Iraque eo Departamento de Estado, que relata os números, tem sido incansável sob pressão para mostrar progressos tangíveis no Iraque através do aumento dos níveis produção, que têm languished bem abaixo dos Estados Unidos meta de três milhões de barris por dia.Virtually the entire economy of Iraq is dependent on oil revenues. Praticamente toda a economia do Iraque está dependente do petróleo.
The draft report, expected to be released within the next week, was prepared by the United States O projecto de relatório, previsto para ser lançado na próxima semana, foi elaborado pelos Estados UnidosGovernment Accountability Office Governo Accountability Office with the help of government energy analysts, and was provided to The New York Times by a separate government office that received a review copy. The accountability office declined to provide a copy or to discuss the draft.
Paul Anderson, a spokesman for the office, said only that “we don’t discuss draft reports.”
But a State Department official who works on energy issues said that there were several possible explanations for the discrepancy, including the loss of oil through sabotage of pipelines and inaccurate reporting of production in southern Iraq, where engineers may not properly account for water that is pumped along with oil in the fields there. But a State Department official who works on energy issues said that there were several possible explanations for the discrepancy, including the loss of oil through sabotage of pipelines and inaccurate reporting of production in southern Iraq, where engineers may not properly account for water that is pumped along with oil in the fields there.
“It could also be theft,” the official said, with suspicion falling primarily on Shiite militias in the south. “Crude oil is not as lucrative in the region as refined products, but we’re not ruling that out either.”
Iraqi and American officials have previously said that smuggling of refined products like gasoline and kerosene is probably costing Iraq billions of dollars a year in lost revenues. The smuggling of those products is particularly feared because officials believe that a large fraction of the proceeds go to insurgent groups. Crude oil is much more difficult to smuggle because it must be shipped to refineries and turned into the more valuable refined products before it can be sold on the market.
The Shiite militia groups hold sway around the rich oil fields of southern Iraq, which dominate the country’s oil production, the State Department official said. For that reason, he said, the Shiite militias are more likely to be involved in theft there than the largely Sunni insurgents, who are believed to benefit mostly from smuggling refined products in the north.
In the south, the official said, “There is not an issue of insurgency, per se, but it could be funding Shia factions, and that could very well be true.”
“That would be a concern if they were using smuggling money to blow up American soldiers or kill Sunnis or do anything that could harm the unity of the country,” the official said.
The report by the accountability office is the most comprehensive look yet at faltering American efforts to rebuild Iraq’s oil and electricity sectors. For the analysis of Iraq’s oil production, the accountability office called upon experts at the Energy Information Administration within the United States Department of Energy , which has long experience in analyzing oil production and exports worldwide.
Erik Kreil, an oil expert at the information administration who is familiar with the analysis, said a review of industry figures around the world — exports, refinery figures and other measures — could not account for all the oil that Iraq says it is producing. The administration also took into account how much crude oil was consumed internally, to do things like fuel Iraqi power plants and refine into gasoline and other products.
When all those uses of the oil were taken into consideration, Mr. Kreil said, Iraq’s stated production figures did not add up.
“Either they’re producing less, or they’re producing what they say and the difference is completely unaccounted for in any of the places we think it should go,” Mr. Kreil said. “Either it’s overly optimistic, or it’s unaccounted for.”
Several analysts outside the government agreed that such a large discrepancy indicated that there was either a major smuggling operation in place or that Iraq was incapable to generate accurate production figures.
“That’sa staggering amount of oil to lose every month,” said Philip K. Verleger Jr., an independent economist and oil expert. “But given everything else that’s been written about Iraq, it’s not a surprise.”
Mr. Verleger added that if the oil was being smuggled out of Iraq, there would be a ready market for it, particularly in smaller refineries not controlled by large Western companies in places like China, the Caribbean and even small European countries.
The report also contains the most comprehensive assessment yet of the billions of dollars the United States and Iraq spent on rebuilding the oil and electricity infrastructure, which is falling further and further behind its performance goals.
Adding together both civilian and military financing, the report concludes that the United States has spent $5.1 billion of the $7.4 billion in American taxpayer money set aside to rebuild the Iraqi electricity and oil sectors. The United States has also spent $3.8 billion of Iraqi money on those sectors, the report says.
Despite those enormous expenditures, the performance is far short of official goals, and in some cases seems to be declining further. The average output of Iraq’s national electricity grid in 2006, for example, was 4,300 megawatts, about equal to its value before the 2003 invasion. The average output of Iraq’s national electricity grid in 2006, for example, was 4300 megawatts, about equal to its value before the 2003 invasion.By February of this year, the figure had fallen still further, to 3,800 megawatts, the report says. By February of this year, the figure had fallen still further, to 3800 megawatts, the report says.
All of those figures are far short of the longstanding American goal for Iraq: 6,000 megawatts. All of those figures are far short of the longstanding American goal for Iraq: 6000 megawatts. Even more dispiriting for Iraqis, by February the grid provided power for an average of only 5.1 hours a day in Baghdad and 8.6 hours nationwide. Both of those figures are also down from last year.
The story is similar for the oil sector, where — even if the Iraqi numbers are correct — neither exports nor production have met American goals and have also declined since last year, the report says.
American reconstruction officials have continued to promote what they describe as successes in the rebuilding program, while saying that problems with security have prevented the program from achieving all of its goals. But federal oversight officials have frequently reported that the program has also suffered from inadequate oversight, poor contracting practices, graft, ineffective management and disastrous initial planning.
The discrepancies in the Iraqi oil figures are broadly reminiscent of the ones that turned up when some of the same energy department experts examined Iraq’s oil infrastructure in the wake of the oil-for-food scandals of the Saddam Hussein era. In a United Nations -sponsored program that was supposed to trade Iraq’s oil for food, Mr. Hussein and other smugglers were handsomely profiting from the program, investigations determined.
In reports to Congress before the 2003 invasion that ousted Mr. Hussein, the accountability office, using techniques similar to those called into play in its most recent report, determined that in early 2002, for example, 325,000 to 480,000 barrels of crude oil a day were being smuggled out of Iraq, the majority through a pipeline to Syria. In reports to Congress before the 2003 invasion that ousted Mr. Hussein, the accountability office, using techniques similar to those called into play in its most recent report, determined that in early 2002, for example, 325000 to 480000 barrels of crude oil a day were being smuggled out of Iraq, the majority through a pipeline to Syria.
But substantial amounts also left Iraq through Jordan and Turkey, and by ship in the Persian Gulf, routes that could also be available today, said Robert Ebel, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“Any number of adjacent countries would be glad to have it if they could make some money,” Mr. Ebel said.
Mr. Ebel said the lack of modern metering equipment, or measuring devices, at Iraq’s wellheads made it especially difficult to track smuggling there. The State Department official agreed that there were no meters at the wellheads, but said that Iraq’s Oil Ministry had signed a contract with Shell Oil to study the possibility of putting in the meters.
The official added that an American-financed project to install meters on Iraq’s main oil platform in the Persian Gulf was scheduled to be completed this month.
As sizable as a discrepancy of as much as 300,000 barrels a day would be in most parts of the world, some analysts said it could be expected in a country with such a long, ingrained history of corruption. As sizable as a discrepancy of as much as 300000 barrels a day would be in most parts of the world, some analysts said it could be expected in a country with such a long, ingrained history of corruption.
“It would be surprising if it was not the case,” said John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org , which closely follows security and economic issues in Iraq. He added, “How could the oil sector be the exception?”
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