Iraqis Wait in Long Gas Lines

Iraqis Wait in Long Gas Lines

Iraqis trying to gas up their cars sat in lines that stretched for miles through downtown Baghdad, as the government prepared to accept bids on its petroleum fields.

The country’s fragile oil distribution system means that periodic shortages appear from time to time. But this week’s crunch seemed among the worst.

Iraq announced Monday that it will open six major oil fields and two natural gas fields to development by foreign firms, which could lead to the biggest outside stake in Iraq’s oil industry since it was nationalized more than 30 years ago.

The government hopes these contracts will boost oil production by 60 percent from levels that are already the highest since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

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