Oil prices slumped Friday after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies failed to reach a deal on oil production cuts.<\/p>\n
The decision followed Russia\u2019s refusal to tighten supply to counter the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on oil prices and the global economy.<\/p>\n
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) resolved on Thursday to cut crude oil production from its members by a combined volume of about 1.5 million barrels per day.<\/p>\n
The cut, which is about 1.5 per cent of global crude oil supplies of over 300 million barrels per day, was approved during the crucial 178th (Extraordinary) meeting of the OPEC Conference in Vienna, Austria.<\/p>\n
The decision is expected to be in force till next June 30, subject to a review depending on changing conditions in the international oil market.<\/p>\n
The OPEC said the burden of the cut would shared with non-OPEC allies, led by Russia.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Moscow torpedoed an attempt by the big oil producers to cut output and stabilize the market. Consequently, the oil cartel\u2019s two-day meeting in Vienna ended with no new agreement, sending crude prices into a freefall.<\/p>\n
Stalemate<\/p>\n
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak on Friday told reporters in Vienna that the talks between OPEC and his OPEC+ grouping had failed to bring about a deal, AFP reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegarding cuts in production, given today\u2019s decision, from April 1, no one \u2014 neither OPEC countries nor OPEC+ countries \u2014 are obliged to lower production,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
OPEC\u2019s Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo said the meeting had been adjourned, although consultations would continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, it was the general, painful decision of the joint conference to adjourn the meeting,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have some few knotty issues, but the norm is here to have everybody on board, unanimity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prior to the meeting\u2019s official start, ministers from Saudi Arabia, the world\u2019s number three oil producer, and Russia, the number two, had huddled for hours of bilateral discussions.<\/p>\n
But soon as news of a \u201cno deal\u201d began to seep out, oil prices plunged more than seven per cent, with Brent North Sea crude tumbling to $46.14 per barrel and WTI to $42.26.<\/p>\n
Virtu Financial founder Vincent Viola told CNBC on Friday that he believes oil will test the $35 level again, which not adjusting for inflation is more like $28 to $32. In turn, this will pressure many American producers\u2014and others from across the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe exploration and production patch is going to go through a dislocation and you\u2019re going to see a lot of bankruptcies and replacement and quite frankly restructuring of the domestic oil market,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Corona Virus<\/p>\n
Oil prices have tumbled into bear market territory since the coronavirus outbreak led to softer demand, especially in China. Stakeholders expected OPEC to step in, in a bid to prop up prices.<\/p>\n
The oil cartel and its allies have since early 2017 tried to support prices through cuts on production, initially of the order of 1.2 million barrels per day.<\/p>\n
In December, they announced a further 500,000 barrel cut with Saudi Arabia adding a \u201cvoluntary\u201d contribution of 400,000 barrels.<\/p>\n
OPEC wanted the new proposed cuts to run until the end of 2020, but Moscow foot-dragged and prices tumbled.<\/p>\n
Nigeria\u2019s worrisome budget projection<\/p>\n
As at 11:18 Friday night, PREMIUM TIMES\u2019 checks revealed that Brent crude sold at $45.54 while Nigeria\u2019s Bonny light sold at $51.94, according to details on oil data site.<\/p>\n
Again, the stumbling prices fall short of Nigeria\u2019s projected oil revenue benchmark of $57 per barrel, with a potential negative impact on the nation\u2019s estimated revenue for the fiscal year.<\/p>\n
In its 2020 budget, Nigeria pegged oil production at 2.18m barrel per day, with a price benchmark of $57 per barrel. But in recent weeks, the impact of coronavirus has sent prices tumbling, crashing at $51 per barrel. On Friday, prices crashed further.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the week, Nigeria\u2019s Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had said that the outbreak of Covid-19 (coronavirus) negatively impacted Nigeria\u2019s oil revenue. She also announced that a mid-term review of the 2020 budget will be carried to reflect the realities on ground.<\/p>\n
Mrs Ahmed, however, revealed that the oil nation\u2019s oil production had increased between two million barrels and 2.1 million barrels per day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are concerned in the current drop in oil price because it\u2019s now below our budget,\u201d she noted. \u201cI am glad to inform you that our oil production as at today is two million barrel per day and at times slightly higher. That in its self will be a cushioning effect for us in the current oil price.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will do a mid-term review, and if the impact is so much, we will need to do an adjustment in the budget working together with the National Assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Friday, Ben Akabueze, Director General of Budget, Budget Office, noted that there was no need for Nigerians to panic in the midst of the challenge.<\/p>\n
Speaking on a Channels Television programme Friday morning, Mr Akabueze admitted that the effect of the virus on oil prices calls for concern but should not drive Nigerians into apprehension as measures will be put in place to address the concerns. He also reiterated the government\u2019s claim that the 2020 budget will be reviewed in tune with prevailing economic realities and falling oil prices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Oil prices slumped Friday after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies failed to reach a deal on oil production cuts. The decision followed Russia\u2019s refusal to tighten supply to counter the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on oil prices and the global economy. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Organisation of Petroleum […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":20231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,15],"tags":[1386,228],"class_list":["post-22386","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-economy","tag-coronavirus","tag-oil-production"],"yoast_head":"\n