Iraqi Oil Minister: Future plan to raise oil exports via pipelines through Syria and Turkey to one million barrels

Baghdad, Sept 9 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Oil Minister Basim Muhammad announced on Wednesday that his country has formulated a future plan to increase pipeline export capacity through Syria and the Turkish port of Ceyhan to exceed one million barrels per day. The Iraqi News Agency quoted Minister Muhammad as saying that Iraq currently exports approximately three million barrels of oil per day, affirming that Iraq is committed to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production ceiling, with current output not exceeding 4.2 million barrels per day. Iraq currently exports a small portion of its oil from Kirkuk and Kurdistan via pipelines to Turkey. However, it is working on constructing a pipeline from Basra to the Feshkhabour border area with Turkey, from which oil will be transported to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. A branch of this pipeline will diverge near the city of Haditha to transport oil to Syria. (End) A.H.H. / R.J.