Insurgents launch new attack on Iraqi oil exports

BAGHDAD, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Insurgents have blown up an Iraqi crude oil pumping station feeding one of two export pipelines from northern fields to Turkey, an oil official said on Thursday.

Exports from the northern city of Kirkuk to the Ceyhan terminal in Turkey were already on hold after insurgents blew up two pipelines last week, just a week after exports resumed.

"They have attacked the new process plant near the west of Kirkuk which feeds the second export pipeline to Turkey," the official said.

"The pipeline was damaged in the first attack, workers were working on repairing it but now the feeding plant has been blown up so we don't know how long will it take now," he added.

Earlier this week, workers from Iraq's Northern Oil Company, seeking to restore exports to Turkey, had started repairing the pipelines under heavy guard.

Keeping the oil flowing to Ceyhan terminal in Turkey is always a challenge for the oil ministry, which is trying to increase exports to revive Iraq's battered economy.

Exports hit their lowest in December at 1.1 million barrels per day because of attacks and bad weather.