Maliki seeks foreign oil experts to help Iraq
Sunday, 1 March 2009
BAGHDAD, Feb 28 (AFP): Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told oil experts today Iraq needed foreign expertise to develop its oil sector, which would enable it to reactivate the country's industry and agriculture.
Improved security meant the country "is now ready to work towards increasing its oil production," Maliki told the opening of a three-day seminar.
"But we need more foreign expertise so this country becomes able to advance the development process rapidly," he said.
Calling for local and international expertise, he said: "We are now focused on increasing oil and gas production ...so as to be able to rehabilitate industry and agriculture.
According to Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, Iraq produced 2.250 million barrels per day during 2008, and this had now risen to 2.310 million bpd.
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh told the 35 government officials and Iraqi and foreign oil experts attending the seminar that he believed the country needed a new oil policy.
"The present situation shows the need to draw up the lines of a new oil policy through cooperation between Iraqi and foreign experts in order to develop the (oil) riches, he said.
Oil income makes up 98 per cent of Iraqi state revenue, which has suffered by the fall in oil prices on the world markets.
Prices have broadly slumped to below 50 dollars a barrels since hitting a record high above 147 dollars in July, as the global economic slowdown draind demand.
On Sunday, Maliki called for Iraq to develop other sectors of the economy and avoid dependence on a single source of revenue.
Planning Minister Ali Baban has urged Iraq to focus on "productive sectors like agriculture, industry, religious tourism and services."
Improved security meant the country "is now ready to work towards increasing its oil production," Maliki told the opening of a three-day seminar.
"But we need more foreign expertise so this country becomes able to advance the development process rapidly," he said.
Calling for local and international expertise, he said: "We are now focused on increasing oil and gas production ...so as to be able to rehabilitate industry and agriculture.
According to Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, Iraq produced 2.250 million barrels per day during 2008, and this had now risen to 2.310 million bpd.
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh told the 35 government officials and Iraqi and foreign oil experts attending the seminar that he believed the country needed a new oil policy.
"The present situation shows the need to draw up the lines of a new oil policy through cooperation between Iraqi and foreign experts in order to develop the (oil) riches, he said.
Oil income makes up 98 per cent of Iraqi state revenue, which has suffered by the fall in oil prices on the world markets.
Prices have broadly slumped to below 50 dollars a barrels since hitting a record high above 147 dollars in July, as the global economic slowdown draind demand.
On Sunday, Maliki called for Iraq to develop other sectors of the economy and avoid dependence on a single source of revenue.
Planning Minister Ali Baban has urged Iraq to focus on "productive sectors like agriculture, industry, religious tourism and services."