Bilateral relations: FG, Saudi Arabia begin talks over oil market stability

The Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman held talks with Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva in the capital, Riyadh, on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they discussed the global oil market, and strengthening joint cooperation among the OPEC countries to maintain market stability.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC+) compliance with oil cuts fell slightly to 115 per cent in September, sources said, indicating that as the alliance raises production targets, some members are still falling short as they face challenges in pumping more oil.

The OPEC and allies led by Russia, or OPEC+ as the alliance is known, raised its output targets by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September.

It has also agreed to raise them by a further 400,000 bpd in October and in November.

Underinvestment and maintenance problems have stymied efforts by Angola and Nigeria to raise output, an issue that is expected to continue impacting the West African producers in the near future.

Previously, Saudi Arabia, the defacto leader of OPEC, defended the policy of gradual production increases from OPEC+ despite calls from major consumers like the United States to add more barrels as oil prices rise.

Asked about calls OPEC+ to increase production further, Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman: “I keep telling people we are increasing production.”

Brent crude prices were trading near $86 a barrel on Monday, a three-year high, buoyed by strong demand.

The International Energy Agency, (IEA), in its monthly report last week said OPEC+ spare capacity could fall to below 4 million bpd in the fourth quarter of 2022 from 9 million bpd in the first quarter of 2021.

Spare capacity will be concentrated in Middle East producers Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait, the IEA said.

OPEC+ meets next on November 4 to set policy for December.