Iraq’s oil production is expected to reach 5 million b/d by the end of 2017, while associated gas production is expected to record 1.3 billion standard cubic feet, according to Iraq’s Oil Minister, Jabar Ali Al-Luaibi, Iraqi News reported.

The minister added that the ministry’s plans “will not be affected by any fluctuations”, as informed by Hellenic Shipping News.

The Iraqi ministry is currently exporting 1,000 tons of liquid gas and 16,000 barrels of gas condensates to global market, the minister noted.

Furthermore, al-Luaibi signed mid-July a contract with Baker Hughes, for a fast track flare gas solution for the al-Nassiriya and al-Gharraf oilfields, south of Baghdad.

Under the terms of the contract, Baker Hughes will be responsible for developing advanced solutions for flare gas at the al-Nassiriya and al-Gharraf oilfields, using modular gas processing technology developed in United States. The project is expected to be implemented in two phases.