Iraq increases exports of crude oil

[Dover]

Iraq increases exports of crude oil

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Monday, January 23, 2006


BAGHDAD: Iraq has increased crude oil exports to about 1.75 million barrels per day (bpd) following resumption of pumping in the north of the country to the Turkish Ceyhan terminal, an oil official said Sunday. "The level of exports returned to its normal level in mid-January," Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad told AFP.

"Exports from the north resumed January 16, with some 200,000 barrels a day and the goal is to double this in the coming months," he said. "Exports from the south vary from 1.55 million bpd to 1.65 million bpd."

In early January, Jihad said exports had dropped to 1.1 million bpd - their lowest level since the war - because of poor weather in the Gulf where tankers are loaded and attacks by insurgents against pipelines and other oil installations.

Jihad also said Baghdad would be paying its debts to Turkish oil companies which announced they had suspended deliveries of refined products because of mounting payment arrears.

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