Iraq to increase oil exports

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil is planning to increase its oil exports after work on the ?maintenance of three fields in the south has been completed. The ministry is keen to enhance the export capacity of the Basra ?and Khour al Amaya in the Gulf, which currently produce 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd). Ministry of Oil official Assem Jihad told Arab Today that work on upgrading the infrastructure of Gulf ports is underway. "The maintenance operation of the southern ports, which will begin next ?September, will not have an impact on exports," he explained. Jihad said that the al-Gharaf field in Dhi Qar province, southern Iraq, which is currently being operated by the Malaysian company ?Petronas, will resume production next month with the capacity to produce 35,000 bpd. West ?Qurna 2 field, in Basra, being operated by Russian company Lukoil will resume production by the ?beginning of 2014 with a capacity of 150,000 bpd. The minister explained that the Majnoun field, managed by Shell, is currently being refurbished and would produce 175,??000 bpd.? "The increase in crude oil production will lead to an overall increase in exports next year, with the additional oil being produced in the south. This coincides with our plans to enhance ?oil exporting capacity in the Gulf," he added.?