BAGHDAD: An agreement between OPEC and its allies to extend oil output cuts until the end of March 2020 will lower inventories, help stabilise the market and address price volatility, Iraqi Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban said on Wednesday.
Asked about OPEC’s position on prices, Ghadhban said the general view was that $70 per barrel or higher was acceptable, adding that the producer group sought prices that were fair to consumers and producers alike. Brent oil is currently near $65.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers led by Russia agreed earlier this month to prolong oil output cuts, seeking to prop up the price of crude as the global economy weakens and U.S. production soars.
Iraq hopes navigation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and uninterrupted, said Ghadhban, who was speaking on the sidelines of an energy conference in Baghdad.
“No fewer than 18 million barrels pass through the strait every day ... the region needs to remain stable,” he said.
Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Tuesday that any disruption to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz would be a “major obstacle” for the economy of Iraq, which has few oil export outlets.
The Iraqi government was studying contingency plans to deal with possible disruption, including alternative routes for oil exports, Abdul Mahdi said.
A vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond, the Strait of Hormuz has been at the heart of regional tensions for decades.
Recent months have seen a bout of instability in the region, with six tankers attacked since May amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Iraqi oil minister says OPEC deal will help to stabilize oil market
Iraqi oil minister says OPEC deal will help to stabilize oil market
- Baghdad studies contingency plans to deal with possible disruption, including new export routes
Saudi Arabia among top states in tech security with 99% score, says official
RIYADH: Programs and security initiatives launched by the Ministry of Interior have contributed significantly to improving quality of life in Saudi Arabia by generating high-quality data that supports planning and enables faster responses, placing the Kingdom in the global spotlight, Khalid Al-Bakr, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, told Al-Eqtisadiah.
He noted that the Unified Security Operations Centers 911 in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, Madinah, and Makkah are among the Quality of Life Program’s initiatives implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, producing data that helps develop plans and ensure swift responses to incidents.
Al-Bakr added that technology has been integrated into security capabilities, including the use of body cameras for security personnel, which has helped maintain high levels of public safety.
He highlighted that reporting violations or crimes via 911 has an average response time of just two seconds, describing it as a technological leap that serves residents and visitors alike and enhances trust in security services.
The CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life Program said the Kingdom ranks among the top countries globally in security technology, with a 99 percent rating, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia is a leader in leveraging advanced security technologies to serve residents and visitors, making it an attractive place to live and visit.
Al-Bakr explained that the major transformation in the use of technology — particularly in services provided by the Ministry of Interior — has had a significant impact on quality of life, noting that accessing services such as passport or national ID renewal has become faster and more convenient, often available at the click of a button.
