Oil production in Saudi Arabia stood at 12 million barrels per day (bpd) in June, Saudi Aramco chief executive Khalid Al-Falih has announced.

Speaking to the Al-Hayat newspaper, said that capacity had been boosted by three new projects brought on stream over the course of last month, with the Shaybah field expansion raising capacity by 250,000 bpd.

The Nuayimm and Khurais fields have also helped to lift production above output targets of ten million bpd, Mr Al-Falih told the paper.

A Reuters survey had estimated that Saudi capacity was around the eight million bpd mark last month.

Meanwhile, sources known to Bloomberg have announced this week that Saudi Aramco and Total are seeking an $8 billion loan to help build a new refinery on the Persian Gulf coast to boost the country's output of distillates, petrol and other refined products.

If the funding is secured, Saudi Aramco will offer oil training courses for domestic workers in line with its Saudization programme.

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