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Algeria's OPEC Governor Appointed New GECF Secretary-General

A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
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Algeria's OPEC Governor Appointed New GECF Secretary-General

A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Algeria's OPEC governor Mohamed Hamel has been appointed secretary general of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), replacing Russia's Yury Sentyurin, Algerian national news agency APS said on Wednesday, quoting the energy ministry.

Hamel, who became Algeria's OPEC governor in 2015, will step down from his current role at the end of the year, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter. A replacement is yet to be announced.

The GECF is a grouping of 11 gas producing countries, including Russia, the world's biggest gas exporter set up to increase coordination and strengthen collaboration among its members. The coalition says it represents 70% of proven gas reserves, 44% of its marketed production and 51% of liquefied natural gas exports across the globe.

Hamel previously served as vice president of strategy and planning at state-owned Algerian energy company Sonatrach, Reuters reported.

He was senior adviser to then OPEC secretary general Abdalla Salem El-Badri from 2010 to 2014 and head of energy studies at the organization from 2002-2009.

He also chaired the high level committee of the Algiers Accord which paved the way for the historic Declaration of Cooperation in December 2016, creating an alliance of OPEC and non-OPEC producers led by Russia, known as OPEC+.

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Japan's Incoming PM Ishiba Calls for Loose Monetary Policy

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) poses in the party leader's office after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo, Japan September 27, 2024. REUTERS
Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) poses in the party leader's office after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo, Japan September 27, 2024. REUTERS
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Japan's Incoming PM Ishiba Calls for Loose Monetary Policy

Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) poses in the party leader's office after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo, Japan September 27, 2024. REUTERS
Shigeru Ishiba, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) poses in the party leader's office after the LDP leadership election, in Tokyo, Japan September 27, 2024. REUTERS

Japan's incoming prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said on Sunday the country's monetary policy must remain accommodative as a trend, signaling the need to keep borrowing costs low to underpin a fragile economic recovery.
It was not immediately clear whether Ishiba, who had been a vocal critic of the Bank of Japan's past aggressive monetary easing, was taking a more dovish line with his remarks.
“It's something the Bank of Japan, which is mandated to achieve price stability, will decide while working closely with the government,” Ishiba told public broadcaster NHK, when asked about further interest rate increases by the central bank.
“From the government's standpoint, monetary policy must remain accommodative as a trend given current economic conditions,” he said.
On fiscal policy, Ishiba said he will aim to compile a package of measures at an early date to cushion the economic blow from rising living costs, with a focus on helping low-income households.
Ishiba, a former defense minister, is set to become prime minister on Tuesday after winning the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday.
After his victory, Ishiba said monetary policy would broadly remain loose but suggested he would not push back against further increases in still near-zero interest rates.
The BOJ ended negative interest rates in March and raised short-term borrowing costs to 0.25% in July in a landmark shift away from a decade-long, radical stimulus program.
BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has signaled a readiness to raise rates further if Japan makes progress towards durably achieving the bank's inflation 2% target, as the board projects it will.
Ishiba told Reuters in August that the BOJ was on the “right policy track” by ending negative rates and endorsed further normalization of monetary policy, saying it could boost industrial competitiveness.
But in an interview this month, he said Japan must prioritize making a full exit from deflation and warned of weak signs in consumption.
The yen, which fell on Friday on news that a dovish rival would join Ishiba in a run-off for the LDP leadership, rebounded on his victory.