Newsletters | Request Trial | Log in | Advertise | Digital Issue   |   Search
  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search
Related Articles
Letter from Austria: OPEC delivers wake-up call
A brutally honest picture about the potential role of oil and gas in 2050 should prompt policymakers to not only reflect but also change course to meet vital energy needs
OPEC+’s extra barrels mostly made of paper
Robust demand and a limited supply of additional physical barrels from key OPEC+ producers has kept the oil market in a healthy price range
IEA and OPEC energy assumptions on fragile ground
Geopolitical uncertainty casts a pall over expectations around demand, supply, investment and spare capacity
Saudi Arabia and Russia pull OPEC+ in different directions
The two oil heavyweights’ diverging fiscal considerations are straining unity within the group
OPEC+ still showing restraint
Petroleum Economist analysis shows OPEC bringing back some barrels in May, but fewer than expected, while OPEC+ continues to see output fall
OPEC+ keeps more barrels off market in April
A fall in Venezuelan output drives overall production lower, as Saudi Arabia starts to slowly bring more crude to the market
OPEC compliance improves amid market share threat
The surprise decision to bring on extra supply has coincided with better quota conformity from laggards in the group, Petroleum Economist analysis shows
OPEC+ plays with a straight bat
The oil alliance’s decision to keep to the plan amid tightening economic fundamentals seems to have been lost in the global geopolitical maelstrom, misplaced market speculation and haze of conjecture
Letter from the UK: A positive legacy for OPEC?
Oil producer group could spearhead the shift to cleaner energy in member countries and be part of transition solution
UAE could be big winner from Aramco U-turn
Saudi Arabia’s decision not to expand capacity target seen as bolstering UAE’s position within OPEC+
Opec
Derek Brower
22 June 2018
Follow @PetroleumEcon
Forward article link
Share PDF with colleagues

Opec’s risky metamorphosis

The urge to create a bigger producer group based on the Declaration of Cooperation is changing Opec's power politics

The Opec meeting of 22 June was less than 12 hours away and the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee was in session deep inside the group's central Vienna headquarters. Things got testy. Iran's oil minister, Bijan Namdar Zangeneh walked out and a few minutes later arrived at the Kempinski hotel nearby to tell reporters that Iran might kill Saudi Arabia's plan to get Opec support for an easing of the cuts the next day.  The JMMC was formed in late 2016, part of the Declaration of Cooperation between Opec and non-Opec countries, and its original task was to keep tabs on producers' compliance with quotas. It meets every two months. And because Saudi Arabia and Russia are permanent members, it

Also in this section
India’s Nayara fallout
29 July 2025
The EU’s Russia sanctions could have far-reaching implications for India’s Vadinar-based refinery
Power of Siberia 2: deal or no deal?
29 July 2025
There is a good strategic case for China to sign a deal for gas supplies via the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, but Beijing’s concerns over over-dependency on a single supplier and desire to drive down the price make it relatively unlikely that a contract will be finalised this year.
An end to EU green illusions
29 July 2025
EU industry and politicians are pushing back against the bloc’s green agenda. Meanwhile, Brussels’ transatlantic trade deal with Washington could consolidate US energy dominance.
Iraq’s tangled Ceyhan oil web
25 July 2025
KRG, Iraq’s central government and Turkey are all working to get exports flowing from the key port, but complications remain

Share PDF with colleagues

Rich Text Editor, message-text
Editor toolbarsBasic Styles Bold ItalicParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase IndentLinks Link Unlinkabout About CKEditor
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: PDF sharing is permitted internally for Petroleum Economist Gold Members only. Usage of this PDF is restricted by <%= If(IsLoggedIn, User.CompanyName, "")%>’s agreement with Petroleum Economist – exceeding the terms of your licence by forwarding outside of the company or placing on any external network is considered a breach of copyright. Such instances are punishable by fines of up to US$1,500 per infringement
Send

Forward article Link

Rich Text Editor, txt-link-message
Editor toolbarsBasic Styles Bold ItalicParagraph Insert/Remove Numbered List Insert/Remove Bulleted List Decrease Indent Increase IndentLinks Link Unlinkabout About CKEditor
Send
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Project Data
Maps
Podcasts
Social Links
Featured Video
Home
  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Reaching your audience
  • PE Store
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact us
  • Privacy statement
  • Cookies
  • Sitemap
All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws © 2025 The Petroleum Economist Ltd
Cookie Settings
;

Search

  • Upstream
  • Midstream & Downstream
  • Gas & LNG
  • Trading & Markets
  • Corporate & Finance
  • Geopolitics
  • Podcasts
Search