Iraq Struggles to Boost Oil Exports Amid Security Concerns

The Iraqi government is facing difficulties in boosting oil exports due to security issues. Post-war officials say that despite efforts to increase production and ensure a regular flow of crude, results have been disappointing for the markets.

Shamkhi Huait Faraj, a member of the team from the interim administration attending OPEC talks in Vienna, expressed hope that exports would reach 1.3-1.4 million barrels per day by the end of December and two million bpd at the end of the first quarter of 2004.

Iraq was exporting 900,000 barrels per day at the end of August, according to Mohammad Al-Jiburi, director general of Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization. However, no oil is flowing onto the international market from the Kirkuk fields in northern Iraq due to repeated acts of sabotage against the pipeline running to the Turkish terminal of Ceyhan.