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.



Egypt Raises Domestic Fuel Prices by up to 15% before IMF Review

This picture taken on March 20, 2024 shows a view of the Cairo University bridge across the Nile river connecting Cairo (R) with its twin city of Giza (L). (AFP)
This picture taken on March 20, 2024 shows a view of the Cairo University bridge across the Nile river connecting Cairo (R) with its twin city of Giza (L). (AFP)
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Egypt Raises Domestic Fuel Prices by up to 15% before IMF Review

This picture taken on March 20, 2024 shows a view of the Cairo University bridge across the Nile river connecting Cairo (R) with its twin city of Giza (L). (AFP)
This picture taken on March 20, 2024 shows a view of the Cairo University bridge across the Nile river connecting Cairo (R) with its twin city of Giza (L). (AFP)

Egypt raised the prices of a wide range of fuel products on Thursday, the official gazette said, four days before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conducts a third review of its expanded $8 billion loan program for the country.

The official gazette, citing the petroleum ministry, said petrol prices increased by up to 15% per litre, with 80 octane rising to 12.25 Egyptian pounds ($0.25), 92 octane to 13.75 pounds and 95 octane to 15 pounds.

Diesel, one of the most commonly used fuels, saw the biggest increase, rising to 11.50 Egyptian pounds ($0.24) from 10 pounds, according to Reuters.

This is the second time the government has raised fuel prices since the IMF expanded its loan program by $5 billion in March. Egypt has committed to slashing fuel subsidies as part of the agreement.

But Egyptians who spoke to Reuters, including taxi driver Sayed Abdo, complained that Thursday's move would mean an automatic increase in prices for daily goods.

"If you ride with me today and usually pay 10 Egyptian pounds, I will ask you for 15, because fuel prices are raised. That's normal, because when I go get food, what I used to buy with 10 Egyptian pounds becomes now for 15," he said.

"We don't know where we're headed with these prices."

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said prices of petroleum products will gradually increase until the end of 2025, adding that the government could no longer bear the burden of increasing consumption.

Egyptians have also endured blackouts, which Madbouly said had ended at the start of this week, as the country struggled to import sufficient natural gas to tackle the summer heat.

In April, the IMF estimated that Egypt will spend 331 billion Egyptian pounds ($6.85 billion) on fuel subsidies in 2024/25 and 245 billion in 2025/26.

The IMF's approval for the third review of the expanded loan program was originally expected on July 10, but was pushed back to July 29, with the lender attributing the delay to the finalisation of some policy details.

The IMF is expected to disburse $820 million to Egypt after concluding its review.