London, May 04: Oil exports from Iraq, holder of the world's second-largest reserves, rose in April to the highest since last year's us-led invasion as the country shipped crude from three outlets for a second month. Exports averaged 1.8 million barrels a day, up about 2 per cent from March, according to data collected from local shipping agents. Mike Stinson, the top US adviser to the Iraqi oil ministry, said the agents' figure was close to his estimate.
Basrah, which handles about 80 per cent of Iraq's oil exports, shut for about 24 hours after two explosives-laden boats blew up meters away on April 24, causing minor damage.
Iraq has struggled to restore oil production, disrupted by sabotage, looting and power shortages, to generate revenue to pay for reconstruction.
Exports reached 54 million barrels last month as shipments rose through Turkey's Ceyhan Port and the Khor al-Amaya Terminal in the Persian Gulf, ship agents said.
Iraq sold crude from turkey after a pipeline from its northern fields was repaired in February. Khor al-Amaya also opened that month, after being shut since the 1991 Gulf war. Ceyhan shipped about 13 per cent of Iraq's exports and Khor al-Maya about 7 per cent, according to ship agents.
Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, was one of five refiners to buy Iraqi Kirkuk-grade crude from Ceyhan last month. Iraq sold about 7.5 million barrels in a tender, the second from northern fields in nine months.
Bureau Report