AFP – 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 (bpd), 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.