Iraq PM hopeful Allawi eyes 6 mln bpd of oil production in 4 years

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/MAC118452.htm

BAGHDAD, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Iyad Allawi, a contender for prime minister after Iraq's parliamentary election, forecast the country could triple oil production in four years with more capital investment and better security.

The country can boost oil output to 6 million barrels per day in four years, Allawi said, up from roughly 2.1 million bpd this year.

Asked if the figure and deadline, incorporated in his manifesto for Thursday's election, were ambitious, he told Reuters late on Saturday: "I don't think so."

Recalling a study made when he was prime minister last year, Allawi said: "We came up with a solid plan which took into account the damage, manpower, requirement of funds to inject to rebuild, rehabilitate and so on and we came up with this figure of 6 million barrels over a period of time."