Monday, March 14, 2005

Saudis and Iran disagree over oil production

Saudi Arabia Oil Minister Ali el Noeimi said that international crude is calling on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, to increase its current supply of 27 million barrels per day by “another half million barrels”.

“Saudi Arabia believes that OPEC’ daily extraction quota must be increased by half a million barrels per day before the coming meeting of March 16”, said El Noeimi.

“Current expectations indicate that international demand in the last quarter of 2004 demand a production increase from us”, added the Saudi minister who considers the current price of oil “unjustified”. “We hope to have a long debate on the issue in the coming OPEC meeting next Wednesday in the city of Isfahan in Iran”.

However Saudi Arabia’s position differs from that of Iran and Venezuela who favour keeping oil prices in the range of 50 US dollars per barrel, well above the 40 US dollars supported by OPEC’s moderates. Cont.

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