Iraq’s oil production hits record in December
BAGHDAD, January 25, 2016
Iraq's oil production hit a record in December, as output increased from the central and southern fields, oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad told Reuters.
Iraq’s crude production from fields in the central and southern region was 4.13 million barrels per day (bpd), according to the final figures announced on Sunday by the ministry.
"This level makes December a record in terms of output in the central and southern regions and for Iraq as a whole," said Jihad by phone.
The fields in the central and southern region, located south of Baghdad, currently account for all of the production controlled by Iraq's central government in Baghdad.
Oil exports from the northern fields are under the control of the Kurdish Regional Government. The northern region is producing about 600,000 bpd.
Iraq’s production from the central and southern region was about 3.66 million bpd in November, according to the ministry.
Opec’s second-largest producer, Iraq expects output from the country's southern region to increase by up to 400,000 bpd this year, Iraqi Oil Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi told Reuters last week.
The ministry will publish January production figures early February. --Reuters
