OPEC and allies led by Russia postponed talks on oil output policy for 2021 to Dec. 3, three sources said on Nov. 30 as key players still disagreed on how much oil they should pump amid weak demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.
OPEC+, which includes OPEC, Russia and other allies, had been scheduled to hold its meeting on Dec. 1 at 1300 GMT.
The group had been due to ease existing production cuts by 2 million bbl/d from January. But with demand still under pressure amid the coronavirus pandemic, OPEC+ has been considering extending existing cuts of 7.7 million bbl/d, about 8% of global demand, into the first months of 2021, a position backed by Saudi Arabia, sources said.
After consultations on Nov. 29 failed to reach agreement, sources said Russia suggested a possibility for OPEC+ to start increasing output by 500,000 bbl/d each month from January.
Further complicating the picture, OPEC member the United Arab Emirates was also signaling it would be willing to support a rollover only if members improved compliance with cuts.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told the OPEC meeting on Monday he would step down as a co-chair of a ministerial monitoring committee, three OPEC sources said. It was not clear why he was planning to do it.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said differences between Russia and OPEC were not as severe as in early 2020, when disagreements led to a collapse in talks and a surge in output.
But Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had no plans to call Saudi Arabia's leadership before the OPEC+ meeting, a move that in the past has helped smooth over any dispute.
OPEC+ has to strike a delicate balance of pushing up prices enough to help their budgets but not so much that rival U.S. output surges. U.S. shale production tends to climb as prices rise above $50/bbl. Adding to the challenge within OPEC+, Moscow's finances can tolerate lower oil prices than Riyadh's.
Global benchmark Brent crude, which settled down 1.2% at $47.59/bbl on Nov. 30, could fall as much as 10% if OPEC failed to roll over cuts, Deutsche Bank said in a note.
Oil had a bull run last week, triggered by hopes for a COVID-19 virus vaccine and expectations of a rollover in OPEC+ cuts.
Recommended Reading
Kissler: OPEC+ Likely to Buoy Crude Prices—At Least Somewhat
2024-03-18 - By keeping its voluntary production cuts, OPEC+ is sending a clear signal that oil prices need to be sustainable for both producers and consumers.
Buffett: ‘No Interest’ in Occidental Takeover, Praises 'Hallelujah!' Shale
2024-02-27 - Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett added that the U.S. electric power situation is “ominous.”
NGL Growth Leads Enterprise Product Partners to Strong Fourth Quarter
2024-02-02 - Enterprise Product Partners executives are still waiting to receive final federal approval to go ahead with the company’s Sea Port Terminal Project.
Enbridge Advances Expansion of Permian’s Gray Oak Pipeline
2024-02-13 - In its fourth-quarter earnings call, Enbridge also said the Mainline pipeline system tolling agreement is awaiting regulatory approval from a Canadian regulatory agency.
Marathon Petroleum Sets 2024 Capex at $1.25 Billion
2024-01-30 - Marathon Petroleum Corp. eyes standalone capex at $1.25 billion in 2024, down 10% compared to $1.4 billion in 2023 as it focuses on cost reduction and margin enhancement projects.