ERBIL – Iraq’s oil production has dropped by 300,000 barrels per day following a fire at the Rumaila oil field in Basra Governorate, a key site responsible for nearly 40% of the country’s total output.

Mohammed Najjar, Iraq’s representative to OPEC, confirmed in a press conference that the decline in production has persisted for the past three days.

He added that it remains unclear when repairs will be completed to restore output to previous levels.

The fire broke out on Friday, January 24, and was brought under control after four hours. Preliminary investigations suggest mismanagement by the field’s administration as a contributing factor.

Additionally, the Oil and Gas Committee of the Iraqi Parliament pointed to inadequate safety measures and aging infrastructure, warning that similar incidents could occur if preventive steps are not taken.

Discovered in 1953, the Rumaila oil field is one of the world’s largest, producing an average of 1.3 million barrels of crude oil per day. It is jointly operated by the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, BP, and PetroChina, with plans to boost production beyond 2 million barrels per day by 2030.