Iraqi oil ministers underline increased cooperation

The agreements were concluded during a three-day visit by Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi to Iraq. Following his visit to Iraq, Qassemi stressed that good coordination and exchange of opinions were made about "oil product exports, construction of Iran's gas export pipeline to Iraq and training of Iraq's technical personnel". Qassemi traveled to Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on Thursday and held meetings with senior Iraqi officials, including his counterpart, in Baghdad on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile Najaf governor reported of importing gasoil from Iran saying the related agreement came into effect on Saturday. Based on current studies, Iran and Iraq share 23 joint hydrocarbon fields which are divided into exploration, developmental and production categories. Iran shares oil and gas fields with most of its neighbors, including Persian Gulf littoral states such as Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman, as well as it northeastern neighbor Turkmenistan. In April 2012, Iraq reportedly increased its oil exports to 2.508 million bpd, the highest figure since 1989. According to BP, the proven oil reserves in Iraq as of early 2011 amounted to 115 billion barrels, which makes the country the third after Saudi Arabia and Iran.