Baghdad, Sept. 06 (SANA) Iraq’s crude oil export capacity has risen to more than 3 million barrels per day, Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair said Saturday, as the government works to expand the country’s oil export infrastructure.
The Iraqi News Agency, INA, quoted Khudair as saying, “Crude oil export capacity has risen to more than 3 million barrels per day,” noting that Iraq has exported around 3 million barrels per day since the beginning of September.
Khudair said the Iraqi government plans to raise export capacity to 5 million barrels per day after completing strategic pipeline routes extending toward Faysh Khabur and Baniyas, in addition to export outlets through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi said on Aug. 21 that the oil sector was a key component of the government’s economic plans.
“We are working to increase Iraq’s export quota through OPEC, and we aim to reach 8 million to 10 million barrels per day within six years, while opening new export routes through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, Baniyas and Aqaba to strengthen Iraq’s position in the energy market,” al-Zaidi said.
Syria signed two memoranda of understanding on July 18 with Iraq and a consortium of international companies to rehabilitate and revive the Kirkuk-Baniyas crude oil pipeline, as part of efforts to restore a major regional oil infrastructure project and strengthen cooperation in the energy sector.
R.H/R.K
