BAGHDAD, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Oil output in Iraq is up to 2.5 million barrels per day, the first increase since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, the country's new oil minister said.
Abdul Karim al-Luaibi in his first statements since taking office Tuesday said increases in production from the Zubair and Rumaila oil fields pushed production up from just below 2.4 million bpd to 2.5 million bpd, the Platts news service reports.
He added this was the first increase since 2003 and comes ahead of the schedule outlined for foreign oil companies in their technical services contracts.
British energy company BP and the China National Petroleum Corp. offered to raise production at Rumaila from 1 million bpd to 2.85 million bpd within seven years. Once that level is reached, it would be the second most productive oil field after the giant Ghawar field in Saudi Arabia.
A consortium led by Italy's Eni said it could raise production at the Zubair field from 183,000 bpd to 1.2 million bpd within the next seven years.
Luaibi, Platts added, said the Oil Ministry under his tenure would focus on upgrading infrastructure in the south of the country to handle the increased production.
