Nigeria is to raise output of crude oil by additional 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of March 2006, a 25 percent rise from the current 2.5 million, the official News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Thursday.

"We are going to put 500,000 bpd of crude from the Bonga field, Erha and others sources," the NAN quoted Minister of State for Petroleum Edmund Daukoru as saying.

"The Bonga field is expected to start production by mid- November," said the oil minister, adding: "production can even start from the field before the target date given stakeholders' commitment in the regard." Bonga oilfield is reputed to be Nigeria 's first large scale deepwater project, followed by Erha and Agbami fields, among others.

Nigeria, the largest oil producer in Africa and the seventh largest oil exporter in the world, now produces about 2.5 million bpd. According to the nation's petroleum development long-term program, Nigeria is desirous of attaining 4 million bpd by 2010.

Source: Xinhua