Iraq plays down oil surge before OPEC meeting

Iraq plays down oil surge before OPEC meeting
Luanda (AFP) Dec 20, 2009 - Iraq's oil minister on Sunday played down the prospect of a surge in its oil production, saying the OPEC crude producers' cartel was not likely to discuss setting production quotas for several years. Observers had said ministers at Tuesday's meeting would have one eye on Iraq's recovering industry and its ambitious plans to ramp up its production to levels that could rival OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia. Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani told reporters on Sunday he did not expect to tackle the question of production allowances for Iraq, but stressed its special situation as a country recovering from war. ... more

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Iraq_plays_down_oil_surge_before_OPEC_meet_999.html