OPEC, non-OPEC to look at extending oil-output cut by six months
KUWAIT: A joint committee of ministers from OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers has agreed to review whether a global pact to limit supplies should be extended by six months, it said in a statement.
An earlier draft of the statement had said the committee “reports high level of conformity and recommends six-month extension”.
But the final version said only that the committee had requested a technical group and for the OPEC Secretariat to “review the oil market conditions and revert ... in April, 2017 regarding the extension of the voluntary production adjustments”.
Oil sector analysts said the lack of an immediate extension could drag on crude prices.
“The dropping of the recommendation to extend cuts in favour of technical review committee is likely to lead to a lot of disappointment and potential further liquidation of long positions by money managers that will put downward pressure on oil prices,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodities strategy at BNP Paribas in London.
It was not immediately clear why the wording had been changed, although a senior industry source said the committee lacked the legal mandate to recommend an extension.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and rival oil-producing nations were meeting in Kuwait to review progress with their global pact to cut supplies.
OPEC and 11 other leading producers including Russia agreed in December to cut their combined output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in the first half of the year.
The original deal was to last six months, with the possibility of a six-month extension.
“Any country has the freedom to say whether they do or they don’t support (an extension). Unless we have conformity with everybody, we cannot go ahead with the extension of the deal,” Kuwaiti Oil Minister Essam al-Marzouq said, adding that he hoped a decision would come by the end of April.
The oil ministerial committee “expressed its satisfaction with the progress made towards full conformity with the voluntary production adjustments and encouraged all participating countries to press on towards 100 per cent conformity,” the statement said.
The December accord, aimed at supporting the oil market, has lifted crude to more than US$50 a barrel.
But the price gain has encouraged US shale oil producers, which are not part of the pact, to boost output.
The committee said it took note that certain factors, such as low seasonal demand, refinery maintenance and rising non- OPEC supply had led to an increase in crude oil stocks. — Reuters