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Syria's oil industry has been breaking down as the rebels have captured many of the country's oil fields, with wells aflame and looters scooping up crude
-- depriving the government of much-needed cash and fuel for its war machine fighting the two-year-old uprising. Before the uprising, the oil sector was a pillar of Syria's economy, with the country producing about 380,000 barrels a day and exports
-- mostly to Europe -- bringing in more than $3 billion in 2010. Oil revenues provided around a quarter of the funds for the national budget. The government has not released recent production figures but exports have ground practically to a standstill, and Assad's regime has been forced to import refined fuel supplies to keep up with demand amid shortages and rising prices. Imports of fuel or crude to Syria have not been targeted by the sanctions.
[Associated
Press;
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