Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.11 / Trend, A.Tagiyeva /
Iraq intends to increase oil production up to 3.7 million barrels per day in 2013, Iraqi Oil Ministry's official representative Asym Jihad told Trend on Tuesday.
The country intends to increase oil exports up to 2.9 million barrels per day in 2013 compared to 2.6 million barrels per day in November 2012.
According to Jihad, the increase in oil production in 2013 is expected due to plans to increase production at the Majnoon field where production will increase by 100,000 barrels per day by April 2013.
Also oil production will be increased at the Rumaila oil field by 100,000 barrels and reach 1.45 million barrels per day, he said.
According to BP, Iraq's proven oil reserves amounted to 143.1 billion barrels as of late 2011. The country ranks third in OPEC after Saudi Arabia and Iran.
BP reported that oil production in Iraq amounted to 2.798 million barrels per day in late 2011.
The major oil fields of Iraq are Rumaila, Zubair, Nahr Umr, Majnoon and West Qurna in the south of the country. About 80 per cent of oil extracted in Iraq is exported.