Iran crisis: Aging oil infrastructure could cripple its economy
LONDON — Iran has invested heavily in the development of strategic weapons but faces a looming crisis that could force a sharp cut in the crude
oil production upon which its economy depends.
A report said Iran, the second largest producer in OPEC, could reduce
oil production by 25 percent and suspend exports by 2015.
The report by the
Singapore-based Facts Global Energy said Teheran has been plagued by aging
fields and lack of infrastructure, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Without a major change in policy and investment climate in Iran, crude
oil production and exports are projected to decline drastically in the
future," the report said.
In 2007, Iran produced 4.02 million barrels of oil per day. But the
report said that without infrastructure modernization, Iranian production
could drop to three million barrels per day by 2015.
The report said the
envisioned production rate would not allow for exports.
"The incremental supply that Iran is promising to the world will simply
not be available," the report said.
