Representatives claim that the official reason for the postponed meeting is conflicting schedules of the ministers, do you believe it?
According to a representative who wished to remain anonymous, OPEC+ will postpone the online meeting concerning the delay in production increase scheduled for this Sunday until December 5. The organization will discuss whether to continue restoring supply after they delayed the daily increase of 180,000 barrels until January next year.
Earlier this week, OPEC+ representatives stated that key OPEC+ member countries have begun discussing the postponement of plans to restore oil production scheduled for January next year, which could be delayed for several months. The initiative to delay production restoration plans has emerged amid a global surplus in oil supply.
On Tuesday, according to a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's office, the Saudi Energy Minister discussed maintaining oil market stability with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister and the Iraqi Prime Minister. Eight OPEC+ countries plan to gradually increase production by 220,000 barrels per month starting in January next year, a plan that was supposed to be implemented in October, but has been repeatedly delayed due to declining oil prices. On Wednesday, the energy ministers of Saudi Arabia and Russia held talks with Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev.
Representatives stated that the official reason for postponing the meeting was conflicting schedules among the ministers. One representative added that some ministers will attend the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting held in Kuwait on December 1.
However, in the past, most reasons for changing OPEC+ meeting dates have been the need for more time to finalize agreements. The two leading OPEC+ countries, Saudi Arabia and Russia, visited Iraq and Kazakhstan this week.
Currently, the alliance faces a dilemma: whether to extend production cuts until 2025 or risk a global supply surplus by starting to increase production. The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that even if OPEC maintains production cuts throughout next year, it would not prevent a significant supply surplus.
Harry Tchilinguirian, head of oil research at Onyx Commodities Ltd., said, "OPEC+ is in a dilemma."
Citi Research indicated, "Our fundamental determination is that OPEC+ will delay the lifting of production cuts by one quarter until April 2025."