OPEC Urges Oil Producers to Increase Investment amid Shrinking Spare Oil Capacity

OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
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OPEC Urges Oil Producers to Increase Investment amid Shrinking Spare Oil Capacity

OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo addresses a news conference in Vienna, Austria, October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo urged oil producing companies to increase capabilities and reinforce investment to fulfill the future demand, at a time when there is a shrinkage in surplus energy.

Brent crude last week reached USD 86.74, the highest since 2014.

“We are estimating $11 trillion worth of investments that would be required to meet current and future demand up until 2040,” said Barkindo, on the sidelines of the India Energy Forum by CERAWEEK.

From around 14.5 million bpd in 2017, global oil demand is expected to increase to 111.7 million bpd by 2040, as per OPEC estimates, according to its latest report in September.

“In 2019, there is a possibility of larger imbalance due to growth in supply,” Barkindo said.

He added that India’s oil demand is expected to rise by 5.8 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2040, accounting for around 40% of the global demand rise. He added that India is projected to see the largest additional oil demand, growing at the fastest pace of 3.7 percent a year, by 2040.

The Russian government is no longer capping oil output increases by local producers, one of the country’s top energy companies Gazprom Neft said on Tuesday.

Deputy chief executive Vadim Yakovlev told a briefing in London that the company’s production was back at the levels it was pumping before Russia clinched a deal with OPEC to cut output last year, and was ready to produce more next year.

Gazprom Neft could potentially lift its oil production by a further 20,000 to 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year and add another 50,000 bpd next year, Yakovlev said.

“The oil market is well supplied. But there are big uncertainties regarding the end of the year with regards to Iran and Venezuela. We may have an opportunity to grow further,” Yakovlev told reporters.



Türkiye Returns $5 Bn Deposit to Saudi Arabia

Commercial and financial district, home to bank headquarters and renowned shopping centers in Istanbul (Reuters)
Commercial and financial district, home to bank headquarters and renowned shopping centers in Istanbul (Reuters)
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Türkiye Returns $5 Bn Deposit to Saudi Arabia

Commercial and financial district, home to bank headquarters and renowned shopping centers in Istanbul (Reuters)
Commercial and financial district, home to bank headquarters and renowned shopping centers in Istanbul (Reuters)

Türkiye’s central bank has reached an agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development to settle a $5 billion deposit received last year, as part of efforts to reduce external liabilities.
The central bank announced on Wednesday that it had reviewed its international deposit processes to better manage reserves and reduce external debts. A bilateral agreement was reached with Saudi Arabia to end the $5 billion deposit deal made last year.
The deposit, placed on March 6, 2023, was part of a broader strategy to strengthen relations between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, following directives from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
This repayment signals a positive shift in Türkiye’s economic management under Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, who has focused on reducing the central bank’s foreign exchange interventions and improving the country’s financial stability.
Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan noted that the bank had largely stopped swap operations with local banks and was reviewing international agreements. Experts see this as a step toward a more straightforward monetary policy.

In a social media post, Şimşek highlighted that Türkiye’s reserves had strengthened due to increased foreign inflows and reduced reliance on external financing, and he confirmed ongoing economic and financial cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
In other news, Fitch Ratings said that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) banks are showing a strong appetite to grow their presence in major regional markets, particularly Turkiye, Egypt and India, attracted by improving economic conditions and better growth opportunities than in their domestic markets.
Fitch Ratings noted that Several GCC banks are reportedly looking to acquire banks in Turkiye, Egypt and India. The agency said it believes external growth is part of some GCC banks’ strategy to diversify business models and improve profitability. By deploying capital into high-growth markets.