Syria Oil Output Dives to 5% of Pre-War Level

Syria's oil production has crashed to 20,000 barrels per day, or five percent of its pre-war output, Oil Minister Sleiman Abbas said, quoted on Wednesday in the ruling party's Al-Baath daily.

"The terrorism of armed groups (rebels) and the unjust (Western) embargo imposed on Syria" were to blame for the collapse, he told a session of parliament.

Abbas said output was now running at about 20,000 barrels per day, compared with 380,000 bpd before an anti-regime uprising erupted in March 2011.

At the same time, gas production has halved to 15 million cubic meters (530 million cubic feet), the minister said.

Abbas said the country, previously a small energy exporter, was being forced to import oil and derivatives at a monthly cost of $500 million.