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Iraq Aims to Boost Crude Export Capacity to 6m Bpd

An Iraqi oil worker at an oil refinery in the town of Nasiriyah, Iraq. (File/AFP)
An Iraqi oil worker at an oil refinery in the town of Nasiriyah, Iraq. (File/AFP)
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Iraq Aims to Boost Crude Export Capacity to 6m Bpd

An Iraqi oil worker at an oil refinery in the town of Nasiriyah, Iraq. (File/AFP)
An Iraqi oil worker at an oil refinery in the town of Nasiriyah, Iraq. (File/AFP)

Iraq aims to increase crude oil export capacity from its southern ports to 6 million barrels per day from the current 3.5 million barrels a day capacity, Karim Hattab, deputy oil minister for distribution affairs said in a statement.

Hattab said the increased capacity would be after 2023 and that the plan includes building 24 storage tanks.

In a statement, he revealed that “the ministry is keen to expedite the completion and implementation of projects to develop oil warehouses in Al-Faw district in Basra Governorate, which aim to enhance and maintain oil exports from southern ports.”

The deputy oil minister added that the ministry is working on developing the Al-Faw oil depot.

He indicated that “the aim is to raise the export capacity of the current system ranges from (3.5) million cubic meters to (6) million barrels per day after 2023.”

Hattab stressed the need to “differentiate between the export capacity available for the export system and the actual export determined by the ministry according to the requirements of the actual need in the future.”

The ministry’s plans also aim to implement the marine pipeline project from the Faw warehouse, he pointed out.

In another context, the Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Iraq, Tokhir Mirzoev welcomed the Council of Ministers’ approval of a draft of the 2021 Federal Budget Law and expressed the fund’s readiness to support reform efforts by the government.

He said that, according to their understanding, the approval of the draft envisaged the implementation of important financial reforms.

Mirzoev continued that despite the difficulty of those reforms and the recently announced devaluation of the currency exchange rate, they constitute critical steps to help reduce significant imbalances in payments and public finances and ensure economic stability.

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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.