Iraq seeks to export 2m barrels in 2009 – minister

MISSAN / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Minister of Oil Hussein al-Shahrestani said his ministry seeks an upsurge in crude oil exports to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2009, referring to a plan to build an oil refinery at a capacity of 150,000 bpd in Missan province. “Iraqi oil export rates will go up to 2 million bpd in 2009 within the framework of a new plan by the ministry through drilling and developing new wells in the oil provinces like Missan and Basra,” Shahrestani told IraqiNews.com news agency. “The new refinery in Missan should help offset the decrease in oil derivatives on one hand and contribute to solving the problem of unemployment in the province on the other,” he added. Missan is home to six producer oilfields: al-Bazrakan, Abu Gharb, al-Fakka, al-Halfaya and al-Amara in addition to the Majnoon field, which is a joint one with the South Oil Company. Amara, the capital city of Missan province, lies 390 km south of Baghdad. AmR (P)/SR 1