Iraq’s oil output shrinks as fuel shortages mount

Iraq’s oil output shrinks as fuel shortages mount
By Abdulatif al-Mawsawi
Azzaman, April 12, 2006

Iraq’s oil production has shrunk to 1.8 million barrels a day, way below average output rates prior to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of the country.

Despite U.N. trade sanctions, Iraq was pumping more than 2.5 million barrels a day then with plans underway to boost output to nearly three million barrels by the end of 2003.

Oil Ministry sources, refusing to be named, said the Ministry’s efforts to boost output have failed with technicians even fearing further slumps in production.

Nearly 1.5 million barrels come from the southern fields which are almost earmarked for export.

But the sources said the region of Basra, where the producing oil fields are situated, was unstable and prone to an upsurge in violence with a bearing on the oil industry there.

They said violent attacks, some involving oil installations and workers, have increased recently.

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