(23 Apr 2003) VOICED BY VERA FRANKL:
Gas-oil separation plant, Rumeila oil field, south of Basra
0000 Various of oil gushing from ground
Basra oil refinery
0021 Wide shot of Iraqi workers spinning wheel on pipeline
Gas-oil separation plant, Rumeila oil field, south of Basra
0027 US private oil contractors
0033 Pull out from tap to US General Robert Crear filling bottle with crude oil
0042 Close up bottle
0045 SOUNDBITE: (English) General Robert Crear, US Army:
"This is going to go a long way to alleviate some of the problems they have right now and also brings a sense of normalcy back to the Iraqi people, they really deserve this."
0054 Closeup of US private oil contractor
0057 Pan of plant
0105 SOUNDBITE: (English) General Robert Crear, US Army:
"This is for the Iraqi people, that's why we're doing this. I think you can see for yourselves none of this would be exported, right now the concern is domestic."
0114 Various of gas flares burning from oil wells
STORYLINE:
Iraq began restoring the lifeblood of its shattered economy Wednesday, with U.S.-led oil engineers pumping crude for the first time since the war with the hope of resuming domestic petroleum production.
Once transformed into refined petroleum products such as fuel oil, the petroleum will be distributed throughout the southern part of the country for use in vehicles, power plants and generators, officials from the U.S. Army
Corp. of Engineers said.
Money from international oil sales is expected to help Iraq rebuild after three wars and more than a decade of economic sanctions.
VOICEOVER:
0002 Iraq's lifeblood flowing again for the first time since US-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein's regime.
0008 The restarting of petroleum production is the latest sign that wartorn Iraq is ready to capitalize on its biggest natural resource.
0016 Workers said production here had been shut off just before the war began on March 20.
0023 But within six to 15 weeks from now, Iraqi oilwells could be producing more than million barrels a day.
0031 Coalition forces put the plant back into action, aided by Iraqi oil workers.
0037 The US General charged with restarting the flow turned the tap at a storage facility and watched as slick black crude dribbled out.
0045 SOUNDBITE
0055 And despite the presence of US oil contractors at the site, the US denies wanting to divert Iraqi oil for its own use.
0105 SOUNDBITE
0115 Income from exported oil will help Iraq rebuild after three wars and more than a decade of economic sanctions.
0126 VISION ENDS
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