Iraq's oil production growth was the second-biggest among global producing countries in 2014 despite security concerns and threats from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, ISIL, said the U.S.' Energy Information Administration, EIA, on Monday.
The Gulf country averaged 3.4 million barrels of oil output in 2014, a rise of 300,000 barrels per day from the previous year, while the U.S.' oil output grew the most - a rise of 1.59 million barrels per day compared to 2013.
The administration said that Iraq accounted for almost 60 percent of oil production growth among the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC.
The EIA expects that the country will continue to have the biggest production growth within the oil cartel in the next two years as well.
- ISIL threat
The U.S. agency underlined that the attacks of ISIL in northern Iraq during June 2014 lowered oil production and refinery operations in the country.
Iraq's largest oil refinery which produces one-fifth of the total oil output came under threat when ISIL seized control of the Baiji district of the country's Salahuddin province in northern Iraq between June 10 and Nov. 10.
However, the attacks did not affect the oil fields under the control of the Kurdish Regional Government, KRG, nor its southern production and exports, the U.S. agency said.
During July and August, Iraq's oil output dived to its lowest level for 2014, while the country's oil production rose by some 600,000 barrels per day after September, reaching 3.75 million barrels per day in December.
Iraqi Oil Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi stated on Jan. 19 that the Gulf country is producing oil at a record level of four million barrels a day, while its exports are expected to increase from 3 to 3.3 million barrels per day in 2015.
Iraq's total oil production increased from 1.3 million barrels per day in 2003 to 3 million barrels per day in 2013, according to the U.S. administration.
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
ovunc.kutlu@aa.com.tr