The oil port in Iraq’s southern province has been closed for refurbishment to its quay walls and for new equipment to be installed.

Established in 1916, it is the oldest of Iraq’s functioning ports and much of its infrastructure had become rundown.

“Technical teams and engineers from the State Company for Iraqi Ports have finished all rehabilitation work in the port, which was opened today following a four-month stoppage,” said the company’s general director, Salah Khudeir, on 10 August.

The company is currently running operations at Al-Maaqal with support from the Iraqi police and army. As with the nearby deep sea port of Umm Qasr, members of the Jaysh al-Mahdi militia group have been removed from the port (MEED 25:4:08).