Tehran, London: Iran says it still hasn’t decided whether it will attend informal Opec (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) talks in Algiers next month, two weeks after the group announced plans to meet.
Iran might delay making a decision until the day before the gathering, a spokesman for the country’s Oil Ministry said, asking not to be identified. Two Opec delegates, who also asked not to be identified discussing a private matter, said Iran has written to fellow members confirming it will participate.
The talks, due to take place during an industry conference on September 26 to 28, have fanned speculation the Opec could revive an accord to freeze production with non-members such as Russia. A similar initiative collapsed in April after Saudi Arabia insisted on the participation of Iran, which refused as it was restoring output previously curbed by sanctions.
Iran’s position hasn’t changed since the April talks, and while the country supports action to stabilise the market, it won’t participate in a freeze before regaining its pre-sanctions share of Opec output, a delegate for the organisation said last week. Former Opec president Chakib Khelil said earlier this month that Iran’s efforts to ramp up production this year might make it more receptive to an output cap.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh weighed up whether to attend the previous oil-freeze talks in Doha in mid-April, ultimately deciding not to.
Opec’s new secretary-general, Mohammad Barkindo, will visit Iran and Qatar early next month, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified. Venezuelan Energy Minister Eulogio Del Pino, who helped organise the failed Doha negotiations, also has been touring oil-producing nations as he seeks an accord to stabilise the market.
London: Opec’s secretary-general will visit members Iran and Qatar next month, just weeks before the group holds informal talks in Algeria, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Mohammad Barkindo, who became the organisation’s chief diplomat this month, met earlier this week with Venezuelan Energy Minister Eulogio Del Pino, said the person, who asked not to be identified as the discussions were private. Del Pino, who has pushed the group to take action that would revive crude prices, has been touring oil-producing countries.
Barkindo’s visits were earlier reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Oil prices have gained 13 per cent in the past two weeks on speculation the group could revive an agreement to freeze production with non-members such as Russia, after a similar initiative collapsed in April.
— Bloomberg
