AbjaMohammad Balkind, secretary general of the oil producer group OPEC, has passed away. He is the boss of the Nigerian National Oil Company. (NNPC) Announced on Wednesday.
Oil industry veteran Balkind (63) was scheduled to resign at the end of this month after taking the top position at the Petroleum Exporting Countries Organization (OPEC) for six years.
"I lost the respected Dr. Muhammad Sanushi Balkind," NNPC CEO Mele Carri wrote on Twitter. He added that he died late Tuesday.
Carri added that death is "a great loss to his immediate family, NNPC, our country Nigeria, OPEC, and the global energy community."
Carri said Balkind died hours after meeting Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and giving his main speech at the Abja Energy Summit.
His tenure as head of OPEC is characterized by the global impact that has hit the industry.
Balkind said in a keynote speech in Abja hours before his death that the oil and gas industry was "siege" and still upset by the huge investment losses of recent years. rice field.
"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." Barkindo said. ..
A turbulent oil market period, including serving as OPEC Secretary-General in 2006 and returning to that position 10 years later, leading the organization towards greater cooperation with non-OPEC oil producers. Has led the organization through.
"It was a lifetime honor to serve as OPEC Secretary-General. Over the last six years, we have witnessed challenging and historic moments. This is cooperation. I have emphasized the importance of this many times. Teamwork. "
OPEC member Angora's Oil Minister Diamantino Azevedo told Reuters that Barkindo is always striving for consensus for the benefit of the organization.
After leaving OPEC, the Council recently announced that Barkindo was scheduled to join the Global Energy Center of the Atlantic Council, a US think tank, as a prominent fellow.
"This tragedy is a shock to the OPEC family. We express our sadness and deep gratitude for the selfless service that Mohammad Sanushi Balkind has given to OPEC for over 40 years. Dedication and leadership have inspired OPEC for many years, "comes, the OPEC Secretariat said in a tweet.
