Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov.1 / Trend, A. Taghiyeva /
Due to the sanctions imposed by the EU and the U.S. on oil supplies from Syria to Europe, the country is considering new directions for exports, the Syrian Oil Ministry told Trend on Tuesday.
"Syria is close to signing an agreement with Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran for oil supplies," the ministry said.
Talks are underway with Russia and China on oil supplies to these countries, the ministry said.
The ministry also said that although Syria has reduced its oil production by 25 percent, the country will soon begin to produce oil in the previous volumes.
"About 50 foreign companies want to sign an agreement with Syria in oil sphere," the ministry said.
Due to the EU and U.S. sanctions against energy exports from Syria and foreign investments in the Syrian oil and gas sector, the country has been forced to reduce its oil production by 25 percent, Syrian Oil Minister Sufian Alao said.
"If before the sanctions Syria produced 380,000 barrels per day, now the country's oil production reduced to 250,00-270,000 barrels per day," Alao said.
He refuted reports that foreign companies stopped their activities in the country's oil sector.