OPEC international seminar postponed over COVID-19

The  Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has postponed its eighth international seminar from June 2021 to June 2022 over the COVID-19 pandemic, OPEC said on Wednesday.

“The Seminar, originally scheduled for  June 16 to June 17  will now be held on  June 29 to June 30, 2022 at the Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria,” the press release read.

According to the statement, the postponement comes as travel restrictions remain in place in many countries and lockdown measures complicated the planning of major international events.

“Though this was not an easy decision to make, our utmost priority is the safety and health of all participants.

“We look forward to building on our past achievements and holding an even more successful Seminar again in 2022,” OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo said, as quoted in the press release.

The list of seminar participants regularly includes ministers of OPEC member states and those participating in the OPEC+ oil output cuts deal, heads of international organisations, chief executives of national, international oil companies, as well as other industry leaders, academics, analysts, energy experts and journalists.