August 14, 2012. Iraq's crude-oil production has risen to 3.2 million barrels a day and will increase as planned to 3.4 million barrels a day by year's end Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs Hussain al-Shahristani said. The country's output has surpassed that of Iran and Kuwait, al-Shahristani said. The figure would be the highest level in more than 20 years. Crude oil pumped from fields in the northern Kurdish region "remains less than required, at a total of 116,000 barrels since Aug. 8,"when pumping from the area resumed, he said. The semi-autonomous area halted pumping for export April 1 following a dispute with the central government over payments to foreign companies. The requirement for the region is 175,000 barrels a day, al-Shahristani said.