BAIJI, Iraq, Feb. 9 Militants have again struck power stations in Baiji, severing electricity to Baghdad and compounding the fuel crisis.
Azzaman reports the attack is the second in less than two weeks. The Iraq Ministry of Electricity says the high-voltage lines in Baiji, in the north, head south to Baghdad.
A source in the ministry told Azzaman the city is now enduring blackout conditions that have spread to other parts of the country.
Baiji is also the location of Iraq's largest oil refinery, which has come under constant attack since the invasion. That, plus an electricity shortage, has greatly reduced Iraq's ability to refine oil.
Iraq faces a major shortage of fuel products now and is forced to import much of what it consumes despite sitting on top of the world's third-largest oil reserves.
Attacks and electricity issues have also hampered production of oil. Iraq produces about 2 million barrels a day now, down from 2.6 million before the war. It exports about 1.6 million barrels daily.
The Iraq Ministry of Electricity said it will no longer fix the grid until attacks are stopped.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
