Iraq gas pipeline blast kills at least three and injures over 50

A gas pipeline explosion in southern Iraq has reportedly claimed the lives of at least three people and injured more than 50.

The explosion occurred on 31 October near the southern city of Samawa, 270km south of capital city Baghdad, Reuters reported, citing police sources.

Police sources noted that the blast occurred along a stretch of pipeline near a militia camp.

The Iraqi military said in a statement that the reason behind the gas pipeline blast is not yet known and noted that nine Shi’ite militia fighters were among those injured.

The fatalities reported in the explosion include two children.

Deputy Oil Minister Hamid Younis said that an investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the explosion.

According to the country’s energy officials, the domestic gas pipeline transports gas from some of the Iraqi fields to feed power stations in some southern cities, as well as a major power station near the capital city.

The gas pipeline explosion, however, has no impact on the gas production and processing operations in the country, two gas officials told Reuters.

To avoid any supply shortage due to the explosion, the government reportedly made arrangements for an alternative pipeline for gas deliveries to power plants.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, oil exports were temporarily suspended from the Kurdistan region following a terrorist attack targeting an oil pipeline on 28 October.

The pipeline transports oil from northern Iraq to the Ceyhan city in Turkey.

Kurdistan produces about450,000bpd. Most of the oil produced from the region is exported via Turkey.

A similar explosion of an oil pipeline in Iraq’s Kirkuk oilfield occurred in September 2018.  The pipeline carries crude oil from Bai Hassan oil field to an oil pumping facility in Debis area in the northwest of Kirkuk City, which is located around 250km north of Baghdad.

Four security members were wounded in the bomb explosion.