Syria's oil production has crashed to 20,000 barrels a day, or 5% 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 a
day, compared with 380,000 barrels a day before an anti-regime uprising
erupted in March 2011.
At the same time, gas production has halved to 15 million cubic meters, 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.