DAMASCUS: 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 metres , 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. (AFP)
