Iraq orders 24-hour oil operations to boost production

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi has ordered oil companies to operate 24 hours a day to boost crude production and develop the nation's energy and export infrastructure. The directive follows a crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, which has significantly impacted Iraq's ability to move oil.

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, the country's oil exports have dropped from 3.4 million barrels per day before the conflict to between 1.5 and 1.7 million barrels per day. Current production levels are estimated at approximately 2.7 million barrels per day.

To mitigate the crisis, Al Zaidi emphasized the need to strengthen alternative export routes, accelerate the rehabilitation of pipelines, and engage international companies for crude commercialization. The Prime Minister stated the goal is to transform the current crisis into an opportunity for success through infrastructure expansion.