Iran plans to significantly boost oil production

Islamic Republic vows to increase output from 4 million barrels a day to 5.2 million by 2016, despite Western sanctions

File: A technician in an oil field southwest of Tehran. (AP/Vahid Salemi)
File: A technician in an oil field southwest of Tehran. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s oil minister has said the country plans to increase its oil production capacity to up to 5.2 million barrels per day by early 2016.

A Sunday report by state TV quotes Rostam Ghasemi as saying this requires some $300 billion investment in the oil industry.

He says current capacity is about four million barrels per day.

The remarks come as the country is struggling to sell crude oil due to Western sanctions over its disputed nuclear program, which the West suspects has a military dimension. Iran denies the charge.

According to the International Energy Agency, Iran’s oil exports plunged to 1 million barrels a day in July, after standing at the 1.74-million-barrel mark a month earlier. Crude oil exports account for about 80 percent of the country’s foreign revenue.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

Most Popular
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.