A local official in Diyala province has criticized the silence of the federal government about Iranian abuses in the joint oil fields with the province, while an oil expert stated that the rejection of the ministry for establishing an oil refinery in Khanaqin district is an allowance for the attempt to exploit the lack of readiness of the oil industry in Iraq.
Energy committee chairman in Diyala Ismail al-Jabbouri said: "The Iranian side is extracting large amounts of oil from the common fields within Diyala province. The Oil Ministry was informed about this issue but it did not take any steps in this regard.
"We have no accurate statistics about the real quantities that Iran extracts per day from the joint oil fields. The Iranian side exploits the lack of readiness of the oil industry in Diyala and the weakness of investment opportunities in the energy field in the province."
Oil expert Ahmed Salami meanwhile said: "Iran extracts from the joint oil fields with Diyala province at least 10,000 barrels of oil daily and this is equivalent to $5bn each year." He expresses his surprise about the silence of the federal government and not to take any action to curb these abuses.
"Diyala province called the Oil Ministry several times to approve the establishment of a refinery in Khanaqin district, but these demands faced rejection by the Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs Hussein al-Shahristani and his position is like a stumbling block in front of the establishment of an oil refinery in Khanaqin."
MP from Iraqiya List Nahida Daini said: "We do not have confirmation that indicates the surpass of the Iranian side for the joint oil fields with Diyala.
"The federal government and the Ministry of Oil must keep the oil wealth of the province and allow the investment projects and allow specialized international companies in the energy industry to work in the province."
In 2010 the administration of Diyala accused Iran of extracting 40,000 barrels per day from the common fields on the border, noting at the same time that the smuggling of oil increased during the deterioration of security situation experienced by the province before 2008.