AFP reported that Libya hopes to raise its oil capacity to up to 2.2 million barrels per day in coming years even as the country tries to return to pre conflict output levels.

Abdel Rahman bin Yezza oil minister of Libya said at a meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna that the country planned to increase its capacity to probably 2.0, 2.2 million in 3 to 5 years. In 2010, Libya's capacity was 1.67 million barrels per day.

Mr Bin Yezza confirmed that Libya would be back to full pre-crisis production levels by about the second half of next year.

In November, Mr Nuri Berouin chief of Libya's National Oil Corporation had said that Tripoli expected to reach pre crisis levels of about 1.7 million barrels per day by the end of 2012.

Libyan oil production all but halted following unrest in the North African country but it has since resumed to 600,000 barrel per day and was predicted to attain 800,000 barrel per day by the end of this year.

During and after the uprising against Moamer Kadhafi, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait decided to pump more crude to compensate for the Libyan shortfall but Mr bin Yezza was optimistic on Wednesday that the Gulf states would now pull back.

(Sourced from AFP)