Letter from Vienna: OPEC wrestles with a plethora of contradictions

Saudi Arabia and its allies delivered a strong message with a collective voice at the OPEC seminar in Vienna, but just as important was what was left unsaid

The members of OPEC and its wider group, known informally as OPEC+, have become good at hiding their apparent differences in plain sight. Maybe that should not be a surprise for such a disparate alliance of stark competitors that can cooperate so successfully for their wider interests. But the OPEC seminar in Vienna in early July highlighted these inconsistencies. Let us start with OPEC Secretary General Haitham al-Ghais, who talked of the importance of inclusivity and dialogue. And on one level it would be hard to argue, with heads of IOCs, NOCs, policymakers, ministers and traders across not just oil but the wider energy space discussing the way ahead for oil, gas and the transition. What