Saudi Energy Minister Calls for Trusting OPEC+

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman participates in the 44th IAEE International Conference in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman participates in the 44th IAEE International Conference in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Energy Minister Calls for Trusting OPEC+

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman participates in the 44th IAEE International Conference in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman participates in the 44th IAEE International Conference in Riyadh. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman reiterated on Saturday that OPEC+ does not interfere in politics.

"We are a responsible group of countries, we do take policy issues relevant to energy and oil markets in a total silo and we don't engage ourselves in political issues," the prince said.

Asked during an industry conference in Riyadh what lessons had been learnt from energy market dynamics in 2022, Prince Abdulaziz said the most important one was for the rest of the world to "trust OPEC+."

He also hoped sanctions would not result in a shortage of energy supplies in future.

In an answer to a question over how trade measures would affect the energy market, Prince Abdulaziz told the conference: "All of those so-called sanctions, embargoes, lack of investments, they will convolute into one thing and one thing only, a lack of energy supplies of all kinds when they are most needed.”



Turkmenistan, Iran Sign Deal to Supply Gas to Iraq

The deal was announced by Turkmenistan's foreign ministry - AFP File Photo
The deal was announced by Turkmenistan's foreign ministry - AFP File Photo
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Turkmenistan, Iran Sign Deal to Supply Gas to Iraq

The deal was announced by Turkmenistan's foreign ministry - AFP File Photo
The deal was announced by Turkmenistan's foreign ministry - AFP File Photo

Turkmenistan and Iran on Wednesday signed a contract for the delivery of 10 billion cubic meters a year of Turkmen gas that Iran will then ship on to Iraq.

The deal was announced by Turkmenistan's foreign ministry, which did not state the monetary worth of the contract, according to The AP.

The ministry's statement said Iranian companies will construct a new 125-kilometer (77-mile) pipeline to Iran to expand Turkmenistan's delivery capacity. The ministry said Turkmenistan plans to increase its gas supplies to Iran to 40 billion cubic meters a year.

Iraq last year faced disruptions in the supply of Iranian gas, which accounted for about 40% of its imports.

Turkmenistan is heavily reliant on revenue from sales of the gas in its vast reserves. And the government was instructed to find alternative options to ensure the operation of power plants in the central and southern provinces of the country.

The former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan relies heavily on the export of its vast natural gas reserves. China is the country's main customer for gas and Turkmenistan also is working on a pipeline to supply gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.