Diyala province to seek federal approval in July to revive century-old al-Wand refinery

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Diyala provincial council head Omar al-Kurei said a formal request will be submitted to the federal government in July to rebuild the al-Wand refinery in the eastern part of the province. Al-Kurei said the facility, established roughly 100 years ago near the Khana oil fields in the Khanaqin district, was dismantled by a central decision more than half a century ago, and revival efforts have been repeatedly delayed since then due to security challenges and financial constraints. The province has seen rising production at the Khana fields in recent months, and a relatively stable security environment has brought the project back into focus, al-Kurei said, noting that Diyala hosts areas considered critical to Iraq's crude output. He described the refinery plan as a strategic step aimed at meeting fuel demand in eastern Iraqi cities, easing pressure on the national distribution system and supporting local employment. Al-Kurei said the file submitted to Baghdad will include the project's technical and financial details, with implementation to follow federal review and approval. No further details on the timeline or cost were immediately available.