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Bremer says some oil revenue could be distributed to Iraqis
Shuneh (Jordan), June 22: The US overseer of Iraq Paul Bremer today said here that some profits of Iraq`s forthcoming oil sales could be distributed directly to the population.
Shuneh (Jordan), June 22: The US overseer of Iraq Paul Bremer today said here that some profits of Iraq's forthcoming oil sales could be distributed directly to the population.
"Some profits from oil sales could be distributed to Iraq's citizens as 'dividends', along the lines of the system used by the (US) state of Alaska," Bremer told the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting on the Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea.
"Alternatively, oil revenues could be deposited in a national 'trust fund' used to finance public pensions and other elements of a social safety net needed to ease the transition from a state-dominated economy to a private sector economy."
Bremer said oil exports, expected to go back on stream in July, would generate 5.5 billion dollars this year. But he cautioned that the level of oil sales would also depend on the security situation.
The US-appointed acting oil ministry chief Thamir Ghadban said the country was now producing around 800,000 barrels per day.
Iraq sits on the 112 billion of proven oil reserves, the world's second after Saudi Arabia. Before the latest war, it produced some 2.7 million BPD, of which more than 2 million BPD were exported.
The idea of an Alaska-style oil revenue sharing was first floated by US Secretary of State Colin Powell in April.
Bureau Report
"Alternatively, oil revenues could be deposited in a national 'trust fund' used to finance public pensions and other elements of a social safety net needed to ease the transition from a state-dominated economy to a private sector economy."
Bremer said oil exports, expected to go back on stream in July, would generate 5.5 billion dollars this year. But he cautioned that the level of oil sales would also depend on the security situation.
The US-appointed acting oil ministry chief Thamir Ghadban said the country was now producing around 800,000 barrels per day.
Iraq sits on the 112 billion of proven oil reserves, the world's second after Saudi Arabia. Before the latest war, it produced some 2.7 million BPD, of which more than 2 million BPD were exported.
The idea of an Alaska-style oil revenue sharing was first floated by US Secretary of State Colin Powell in April.
Bureau Report