Oil Ministry to increase Rumaila oilfield production
Technicians walking in the Rumaila oilfield. Photo: Rumaila Operating Organisation
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, confirmed on Monday that Iraq is trying to raise the production capacity of the Rumaila oilfield by 300 thousand barrels per day, to reach 1.7 million barrels per day, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi Oil Ministry.
The Oil Minister statement took place during his visit to Rumaila oilfield in southern Iraq, which is the largest oil field in the country.
“The ministry is keen to implement strategic plans to increase the production and development operations currently underway in the Rumaila oilfield which steadily contributes to Iraq’s GDP,” Abdul-Ghani said.
The Iraqi Oil Minister explained that the Rumaila oilfield is one of the largest producing oil fields in Iraq, and its current production is 1.4 million barrels per day.
“We plan to increase and raise the production capacity of the oilfield to reach 1.7 million barrels per day during the coming period,” Abdul-Ghani elaborated.
Abdul-Ghani clarified that the Ministry of Oil is working to benefit from the associated gas produced from the Rumaila oilfield, in cooperation with Basra Oil Company (BOC), South Gas Company (SGC), and Basrah Gas Company (BGC).
Iraq is one of the major countries in terms of oil production and exports. Iraqi oil exports represent 90 percent of the country’s GDP, but this large oil country suffers from major crises and high rates of poverty and unemployment since the US invasion in 2003.