SANAA, Yemen, March 7 (UPI) -- Yemen has called for an increase in oil production to 500,000 barrels per day by 2010, the Yemen Observer reported.
"The current level of oil production decreased from 438,000 barrels per day in 2002 to 317,000 barrels per day in 2007," said Minister of Oil and Minerals Khaled Bahah.
Bahah said the ministry is planning to launch new refineries in Yemen and will increase the proportion of Yemeni workers in oil companies to 90 percent.
"Last year, the rate of Yemenization of work forces was more than 85 percent," he said.
Bahah called on Japanese companies to benefit from the investment climate in Yemen in the oil sector. He invited the companies to take part in the third oil, gas and minerals conference that will be held in Sanaa by the end of this year.
He also discussed with him possibilities of investment in the oil sector in the country. In a statement Bahah said the ministry is working to improve the current production blocks and develop new exploratory wells to raise the production in addition to attracting further international oil companies to invest in the country.
