Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 31 January 2005. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Monday, 31 January 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons oil production supplies in Iraq have not been properly metered; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons oil production supplies in Iraq have not been properly metered; and if he will make a statement. [208734] Mr. Rammell: Installation of oil metering equipment is an important measure to preserve Iraq's oil resources. Prior to military action in Iraq there were no functioning meters in the Iraqi oil system. At the handover of authority on 28 June 2004 the issue remained outstanding. Currently Iraqi oil exports, either by pipeline to Ceyhan in Turkey or by tanker through the Arabian Gulf, are metered as they pass into the receiving tanks. The Iraqi Ministry of Oil is responsible for ensuring meters are installed on Iraq's oil wellheads. The Ministry has established a committee to develop and install a metering system for the entire Iraqi oil industry. However a comprehensive system to measure crude oil output is a complex task beginning in the oil fields themselves. This involves conducting a design study that will identify the type of meters and their locations required for measuring crude oil.

Secondary information