--- title: "Iraq aims to boost oil output to 10 million barrels daily" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/iraq-aims-to-boost-oil-output-to-10-million-barrels-daily" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/iraq-aims-to-boost-oil-output-to-10-million-barrels-daily" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/iraq-aims-to-boost-oil-output-to-10-million-barrels-daily.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/iraq-aims-to-boost-oil-output-to-10-million-barrels-daily" category: "Business & Economy" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-08-21T16:46:10.041Z" source_reported: "2026-08-21T15:30:01.000Z" updated: "2026-08-21T16:46:10.041Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-21T16:45:29.145097+00:00" --- # Iraq aims to boost oil output to 10 million barrels daily *The country is seeking new export routes and has signed deals with Chevron.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Iraq's oil production target is corroborated by 5 sources, with Chevron's potential role mentioned by one. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting on Iraq's oil export plans is present, but details on the impact and affected parties are limited. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines suggest a significant event, but the reporting focuses on stated ambitions rather than immediate impact. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Iraq intends to increase oil production to between 8 million and 10 million barrels per day within six years. - The country is developing new oil export routes through Türkiye's Ceyhan port, and via Syria's Baniyas and Jordan's Aqaba ports. - Chevron has signed memorandums of understanding with the Iraqi government for the West Qurna 2 and Nassiriya oilfields. - The Strait of Hormuz closure is identified as a significant challenge to Iraq's oil exports. Iraq aims to significantly increase its oil production, targeting between 8 million and 10 million barrels per day within the next six years. This ambitious goal represents more than double the country's output before recent regional conflicts disrupted flows. To support this expansion, Iraq is developing alternative export routes. These include utilising Türkiye's Ceyhan port, and establishing new pathways via Syria's Baniyas and Jordan's Aqaba ports. The government has identified the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a major obstacle to its current oil exports and is seeking to mitigate this risk through these new routes. In line with these expansion plans, the Iraqi government has entered into agreements with the American energy company Chevron. Memorandums of understanding have been signed concerning the West Qurna 2 and Nassiriya oilfields. West Qurna 2, which currently produces 460,000 barrels per day, holds an estimated 13 billion barrels of oil. Iraq has indicated a target to increase production at this field to between 750,000 and 800,000 barrels per day once Chevron assumes operational control. Chevron also signed an agreement in principle for the Nassiriya project, which includes exploration blocks and existing fields, with an initial production capacity target of 600,000 barrels per day within seven years of commencing work. ## Disagreement on export route details Reports differ on the specific ports Iraq is developing for oil exports. Anadolu Ajansı, Daily Sabah, and Akşam state that Iraq is working to expand exports through Türkiye's Ceyhan port and develop routes via Syria's Baniyas and Jordan's Aqaba ports. Haberler also mentions Ceyhan, Baniyas, and Aqaba ports. In contrast, Arab News reports that the Iraqi prime minister seeks to increase oil production but does not specify the export routes. Free Malaysia Today News also focuses on the production increase target without detailing export routes. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated reports mention the Iraqi prime minister's statements regarding domestic security, the agreement on restricting weapons to state control, or the development of mechanisms for arms handover. None of the right-rated reports mention Chevron's memorandums of understanding with the Iraqi government for the West Qurna 2 and Nassiriya oilfields, nor the specific production figures for West Qurna 2 or its estimated oil reserves. The centre-rated coverage is entirely absent from the reports provided. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 17% (1) - Centre: 16% (1) - Right: 67% (4) 2 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-21T16:45:29.145097+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-21T17:15:19.385Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Motley Fool's report led on the potential role of Chevron in Iraq's oil production expansion. It detailed the memorandums of understanding signed between Chevron and the Iraqi government for the West Qurna 2 and Nassiriya oilfields. The report highlighted that West Qurna 2 currently produces 460,000 barrels per day and holds an estimated 13 billion barrels of oil. It also noted Iraq's ambition to boost production at West Qurna 2 to 750,000-800,000 barrels per day under Chevron's operational control, and the Nassiriya project's target of 600,000 barrels per day. The report also discussed the risks associated with the plan, including the potential cost of a new pipeline through Syria and exposure to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on Iraq's stated aims to increase oil production and expand export routes. Anadolu Ajansı, Daily Sabah, and Akşam reported that Iraq's prime minister stated the country is working to expand oil exports through Türkiye's Ceyhan port and develop routes via Syria's Baniyas and Jordan's Aqaba ports. These reports also mentioned Iraq's aim to raise oil exports to between 8 million and 10 million barrels per day within six years and cited the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a major challenge. Arab News reported the prime minister's goal to increase production to 10 million barrels a day within six years, noting that crude oil sales account for nearly 90 percent of Iraq's revenue and that exports have been hurt by the Middle East war. Free Malaysia Today News also highlighted the prime minister's goal to increase oil export to 10 million barrels a day, referencing pre-war production levels. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 3 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Motley Fool](https://fool.com/investing/2026/08/21/iraq-wants-to-more-than-double-its-oil-output-in-six-years-heres-what-it-means-for-chevron) — Iraq Wants to More Than Double Its Oil Output in Six Years. Here's What It Means for Chevron. - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/energy/iraq-aims-boost-oil-output-8-10-million-bpd-six-years-2026-08-21) — Iraq aims to boost oil output to 8-10 million bpd in six years - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iraq-premier-says-working-to-expand-oil-exports-via-turkiye-syria-jordan/4033937) — Iraq premier says working to expand oil exports via Türkiye, Syria, Jordan - [Daily Sabah](https://dailysabah.com/business/economy/iraq-working-to-expand-oil-exports-via-turkiye-syria-jordan-pm) — Iraq working to expand oil exports via Türkiye, Syria, Jordan: PM - [Arab News](https://arabnews.com/node/2655437/middle-east) — Iraq PM seeks oil production rise to 10m barrels a day - [Akşam](https://aksam.com.tr/ekonomi/ceyhan-limanina-dev-sevkiyat-komsu-petrolde-vanayi-turkiyeye-cevirdi/haber-1692293) — Huge Shipment to Ceyhan Port! Neighboring Country Turns the Valve Towards Türkiye for Oil. - [Free Malaysia Today News](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/08/21/iraq-pm-seeks-oil-export-rise-to-10mil-barrels-a-day) — Iraq PM seeks oil export rise to 10mil barrels a day - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/irak-basbakani-zeydi-petrol-ihracatini-ceyhan-20164378-haberi) — New Routes for Oil Exports From Iraq. ## Questions **What is Iraq's target for oil production?** Iraq aims to increase its oil production to between 8 million and 10 million barrels per day within the next six years. This goal represents more than double its output prior to recent regional conflicts. **What new export routes is Iraq developing?** Iraq is working to expand oil exports through Türkiye's Ceyhan port and develop new routes via Syria's Baniyas and Jordan's Aqaba ports. This is partly to mitigate challenges posed by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. **What role will Chevron play in Iraq's oil sector?** Chevron has signed memorandums of understanding with the Iraqi government for the West Qurna 2 and Nassiriya oilfields. The company could play a key role in developing these fields and increasing Iraq's overall oil output. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/iraq-aims-to-boost-oil-output-to-10-million-barrels-daily. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Iraq aims to boost oil output to 10 million barrels daily", https://mediabias.news/business/iraq-aims-to-boost-oil-output-to-10-million-barrels-daily