Surprise… What do you know about the Iraqi refinery in Somalia?
Surprise… What do you know about the Iraqi refinery in Somalia?
2025-05-18 01:16
Shafaq News/ Iraqi economic expert, Nabil Al-Marsoumi, revealed on Sunday the details of what he described as a “surprise” regarding the presence of an Iraqi oil refinery in Somalia, which was established in the 1970s.
Al-Marsoumi said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency: “An Iraqi oil refinery in Somalia!!!” He added, “This refinery was established in 1974 by the General Company for Oil Projects with a capacity of half a million tons annually, on a 50/50 basis between Iraq and Somalia.”
Al-Marsoumi explained that “Iraq provided the refinery’s establishment funds in foreign currencies, while Somalia’s share of 50% of the project costs is being paid with a symbolic interest to be paid within three years from the project’s operational date.” He pointed out that “the Somali president requested at the Baghdad Summit that Iraq rehabilitate the currently damaged refinery so that it can return to operation again,” adding in a tone of surprise: “What a surprise! Iraq has a refinery and no one knows about it!!!”
On Saturday, on the sidelines of the Arab Summit held in Baghdad, the Somali president surprised his Iraqi counterpart, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, by revealing the presence of Iraq’s largest oil refinery in his country, established in the 1970s, according to an Iraqi government spokesman.
Government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said during a talk show that “Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani received the Somali president yesterday, and during the meeting, they discussed cooperation in the fields of agriculture and livestock.” He added that “the Somali president raised cooperation in the field of energy, surprising al-Sudani by revealing the presence of the largest Iraqi refinery in Somalia, built in the 1970s, which is currently damaged. He called for its rehabilitation so that it can return to operation again.”
shafaq.com
