Q&A: Jassim Kamel Marzouq, director of the Khor al-Zubair port

BASRA - The Khor al-Zubair port in Basra plays a key role in Iraq’s crude and fuel trade, and it is set to expand.

Crude from the Qayarah oil field in Ninewa province is transported overland, by rail and truck, to Khor al-Zubair for export. And the port is the entry and exit point for a variety of refined products, including heavy fuel oil (HFO), jet fuel, diesel, and kerosene.

The port sits at the northern end of a channel that runs about 20 kilometers inland from the Basra Gulf. Because the waterway is relatively narrow and shallow, smaller ships are needed to shuttle liquids between the port and a waypoint in the Basra Gulf known as the Khor al-Zubair lightering area, which can accommodate larger tanker ships.

Eng. Jassim Kamel Marzouq is the director of the port. He spoke with Iraq Oil Report about recent operations, the coordination needed among various state-run companies, and ongoing work to increase the port’s capacity. A full transcript of the interview is available below for Iraq Oil Report subscribers.