Article author:
Reuters
McDonald Zirtowe
Abuja — The boss of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced on Wednesday that Mohammed Barkindo, the secretary general of OPEC, has died. ..
Oil industry veteran Balkind (63) was scheduled to resign at the end of this month after taking the top position at the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for six years.
"We have lost the respected Dr. Muhammad Sanushi Balkind," NNPC CEO Melecari wrote on Twitter. He added that he died late Tuesday.
Death is "a huge loss to his immediate family, NNPC, our country Nigeria, OPEC, and the global energy community," Carrie added.
Carri met with Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari and said Balkind died hours after giving his main speech at the Energy Summit in Abuja.
His tenure as OPEC's head was characterized by a global impact that hit the industry.
In a keynote speech in Abuja hours before his death, Balkind said the oil and gas industry was "siege" and still upset by the huge investment losses of recent years. Stated.
"In a very short period of time, the industry was hit by two major cycles: the severe market downturn in 2015 and 2016 and the more widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic." Balkind said. ..
Balkind's career in the oil industry began in Nigeria in the early 1980s. He has held various positions at NNPC and represented Nigeria on the OPEC Economic Committee.
After serving as OPEC Secretary-General in 2006, he returned to that position 10 years later and strengthened cooperation with non-OPEC oil, creating a period of turmoil in the oil market. I have overcome it. producer.
"It was a lifetime honor to serve as OPEC Secretary-General. Over the last six years, we have witnessed challenging and historic moments: cooperation and team. I have emphasized the importance of work many times, "Balkind said in a keynote on Tuesday.
OPEC member Angola's oil minister, Diamantino Azebed, told Reuters that Balkind is constantly striving to seek consensus for the benefit of the organization.
After leaving OPEC, Balkind was scheduled to join the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center, a US think tank, as a prominent fellow, the Council recently announced.
"This tragedy is a shock to the OPEC family. We express our sadness and deep appreciation for the more than 40 years of selfless service that Mohammed Sanushi Balkind has provided to OPEC. Dedication and leadership will inspire OPEC over the years to come, "the OPEC Secretariat said in a tweet. (Report by Maher Chmaytelli, Maha El Dahan in Dubai, Nadine Awadalla in Cairo, MacDonald Dzirutwe in Abuja, Report by Bate Felix by Clarence Fernandez, Louise Heavens, Kim Coghill)
