largest in the world, but security concerns cause hesitation for companies to put people on the ground, the Washington Post reported. Iraq, which produces most of its crude oil in the south of the country, pumped 2.07 million barrels per day last month, making it the Middle East's fifth-largest producer, according to a Reuters survey this month. Al-Hariri said that Royal Dutch Shell and Dow Chemical Company were in talks with the government to renovate and expand a chemical plant in southern Iraq at a cost of up to $2.1 billion. Similar talks were also conducted with Chevron Corporation, Al-Hariri said on Sunday.
