Iraq 'to become top oil exporter'

Iraq's oil minister has said he expects the country to become the world's top oil producer within six to seven years, Reuters has reported. "We can't find a reason to prevent Iraqi production becoming higher than any other Opec state or even states outside Opec," Hussain al-Shahristani said. Unlike Opec's 11 other members, Baghdad is not currently subject to the output targets the group uses to set supply levels. Iraq expects capacity to eventually reach up to 12 million bpd.