Iraq's oil minister Hussein al-Shahrestani has urged national ministries and institutions to assist international oil companies (IOCs) working in the country to ensure a timely redevelopment of its vast oilfields.

Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad attended by Aswat al Iraq, the minister said that in six years Iraq should be producing more than ten million barrels of oil per day.

However, in order to achieve this target, national oil infrastructure will have to be harmonised with the working practices of IOCs, he explained.

As well as creating strong logistics support services, this cooperation will also extend to training and development partnerships to boost the number of Iraqis working in the oil and gas industry.

"The ministry has invited delegations representing these oil companies to the conference in an attempt to diagnose the most pressing issues and give the ministry space to find solutions," he added.

Iraq has held two international bidding rounds since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, with Total, CNOOC and BP among the major winners.

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