Iraqi Oil Minister, Abdul Karim al-Laeebi said that oil exports averaged to 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, due to attacks on the northern Kirkuk pipeline while production totaled 3.15 million bpd throughout the month.
Iraq needs to increase exports in order to enhance its position as the second largest producer in OPEC, but infrastructure problems and repeated attacks on the northern export line prevented the achievement of the country's goal to export 2.9 million bpd.
The exports settled at the same level as in the previous month, while the production in April was to 3.1 million bpd.
Crude exports were delayed through Kirkuk -Turkish port of Ceyhan pipeline on the Mediterranean Sea in May because of repeated attacks by insurgents on the line that transports Kirkuk crude.
The minister said that the production of Majnon oil field will resume in early July after the completion of maintenance work and as expected production is to reach 100 thousand bpd in the beginning.
Shafaq News
26 May
