DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said on Friday that great challenges are facing the field of oil in Syria.

Opening a three-day Workshop of Exploration and Production of Petrol and Gas companies working in Syria, Sufian Alao said "the production of oil in Syria got at about 600,000 BPD in 1996 while it has recorded now about 400,000 BPD," expecting a "fall in oil production in a gradual and slow way in coming years."

But the minister underlined at the same time that the ministry is exerting great efforts to cut this slump by announcing about a new areas to explore and develop current fields of oil.

 Sawsan