Bulletin Iraq Fuel Update 07 (01 May 2003)
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Overview
The terminal and refineries appear to have slowed production. The knock on effect, although not critical for diesel, is causing concern. Gasoline prices are rising reflecting the shortages and smuggling via Iran where gasoline is cheap and available has been reported as growing. LPG reports indicate that little is available on normal markets, and that prices are sky-rocketing.
The LPG problem was noted by the Irish NGO GOAL, who highlighted the shortfall in Nasiriyah, due to a hole in the main tank at the storage facility. They teamed up with the CA of the US Marine Corps and a small but dynamic 3 man group from the Salvation Army, who made it their mission to solve this potential crisis.
The team, with military assistance from the Marine Corps, located at Al Kut 33 20 ton wheeled bulk LPG trailers, a mobile bottling plant still in its wrappings and 60,000 new bottles. The team has requested that the tank at Nasiriyah be repaired, but we have been unable to trace that request within HOC. The normal supply to Nasiriyah was traditionally from Baghdad but apparently this supply was not available and therefore a new plan was drawn up to collect bulk gas and bottled exchange gas from the Basra Bottling Plant. The availability and detail is to be tied up on Saturday by the Salvation Army and UNJLC
Latest reports coming in as the NGOs move into more areas, indicate that the shortages of LPG may well be more wide-spread than initially reported, and with no significant new production, stocks are reaching a critical low level.
POL PRICES
Gasoline remains in short supply throughout the country. Fuel appears to be old stock with little new product on the market. Police in many areas are restricting price rises at gas stations. Smuggled product is openly appearing in the street for sale by jerry can (5 gal). Gasoline Price guide: 50ID to 90ID per litre in most places
Diesel is in fair supply to most areas. Price guide 15ID to 20ID per litre
LPG has all but disappeared form the open market. The only price known is the black market price which appears to be around 6000ID per bottle.
Exchange rates: $1 to 1400ID
ABOUT UNJLC
UNJLC is an inter-agency facility reporting to the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq and generally to the Inter Agency Standing Committee. Its mandate is to coordinate and optimise logistics capabilities of humanitarian organisations in large scale emergencies. UNJLC operates under the custodianship of WFP that is responsible for the administrative and financial management of the unit. UNJLC is funded from voluntary contributions that are channeled through WFP. The UNJLC project document for Iraq can be viewed at the UNJLC website (www.unjlc.org).
