It could take two years to reopen Iraq's biggest oil refinery Baiji due to its extensive damage, an expert said Monday.
Iraqi security forces and al-Hashd al-Shaabi Shia militia retook the Baiji oil refinery in Saladin province on October 16 from Daesh militants who controlled the refinery since June 2014.
'When the refinery was saved, it was a ruin. We are talking about a facility that had big explosions and almost leveled to the ground,' Ghalib Mohammed, an energy expert and faculty member at Iraq's University of Sulaymaniyah told Anadolu Agency.
'Therefore, it is not easy to make it become operational again. This will take at least two years,' he stressed.
Retaking the control of Baiji is not only a financial blow against Daesh, but it will end fuel shortages for the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq and the country's Kirkuk district. Those regions suffered major fuel shortages after Baiji refinery fell to Daesh militants, as they had to import refined oil from neighboring countries such as Turkey and Iran.
'Baiji had a refining capacity of 140,000 - 180,000 barrels oil per day. Besides gasoline and diesel, it could produce jetfuel, heating oil, and liquefied petroleum gas,' Mohammed said.
Stating that there are only three major refineries in Iraq -- Baiji in Saladin, Dora in Baghdad and Basra refinery in southern Iraq -- the expert said Iraq has 11 other refineries that can produce gasoline and diesel.
Meanwhile, demolishing Baiji refinery to be rebuilt or constructing a new refinery at another region in Iraq is also on the agenda, another expert said.
'The Iraqi central government had decided before to construct another refinery with the same capacity at another region of the country,' Arez Abdullah, the chairman of the Iraqi parliamentary oil and gas committee, told Anadolu Agency.
'However, this was postponed constantly due to falling oil prices and increasing attacks by Daesh militants. There are now a few projects that are presented to the government. First is to build a refinery for all provinces in Iraq. Second, the government giving incentives so that the private sector can be involved,' he explained.
Reporting by Idris Okuducu
Writing by Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
ovunc.kutlu@aa.com.tr