Kachikwu Predicts Crude Oil Price Rise in 2016

Kachikwu Predicts Crude Oil Price Rise in 2016

05 Dec 2015
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 Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu

By Chineme Okafor in  Abuja
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Conference, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has said the demand for OPEC crude was expected to rise by 1.2 million barrels per day to average 30.8 million barrels per day for the year 2016 leading to a more balanced market.
Kachikwu who is also head of Nigeria’s delegation to the 168th Ordinary OPEC Meeting made this assertion while addressing the OPEC Ministers Conference in Vienna, Austria.
According to a statement by the General Manager, Communication of NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, the minister noted that a balanced and stable market would be of crucial importance in the years ahead to ensure continued investment in the industry as it gears up to meet the world’s burgeoning energy needs.
According to him, the conference was centered on enhancing market stability which would benefit all stakeholders and contribute to global economic growth which could be achieved through concerted effort of stakeholders.
“Dialogue and collaboration with consumers, non-OPEC producers, oil companies and investors are essential in reaching our common goal of a more orderly oil market. In 2015, we have seen positive examples between OPEC and Non-OPEC countries and the Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable held in Qatar in November. OPEC has also held bilateral dialogues with Russia and China this year, and later this month the OPEC-India Energy Dialogue would have its first meeting,” Kachikwu stated.
He said world oil demand in 2015  grew by 1.5 million barrels per day, up from 1 million barrels per day in 2014, adding, “Next year, we foresee growth of 1.3 million barrels per day to average 94.1 million barrels per day, with most of this growth coming from non-OECD countries”.
According to him, as far as supply was concerned, non-OPEC countries would continue to see significant reduced production growth as compared to past years, predicting a contraction in non-OPEC oil supply in 2016.
He said the downward trend stemmed mainly from the impact of investment cutbacks and the drop in US tight oil output, which had been declining since May 2015. He added that this was clearly illustrated by the drop in the number of newly drilled wells and the reduction by half of active drilling wells.
Kachikwu maintained that OPEC remained committed to do its part in protecting the environment and supporting sustainable development, adding that OPEC and its member countries were taking part in the climate change negotiations in Paris with the goal of full, effective and sustained implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The President of OPEC Conference also welcomed the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, His Excellency Sudirman Said, who represented his country to reactivate its OPEC membership after a seven-year suspension.