Iraq plans to increase oil output to 9m barrels per day by 2020

The Iraqi government unveiled Monday plans to take the country's production of crude oil up to nine million barrels per day by 2020. Speaking at the opening session of the Iraqi-French Business and Investment Forum, Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain Al-Shahristani pointed out that Iraq's oil production have already rose from 2.3 million bpd to 3.3 million bpd. The government is working on an ambitious plan to boost oil production and exportation to reach nine million bpd and 7.5 million bpd by 2020 respectively, he said. He added that the government also plans to increase gas production to meet the growing demand for it, particularly for operating power stations.