Iraqi Oil Minister Amer Rachid called Wednesday for an OPEC output cut of at least one million barrels per day, ahead of a meeting of the oil-producing cartel in Vienna.
"Our position will be we will ask for a one million barrel a day cut, at least," he said as he arrived for the meeting with energy chiefs of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries on Friday. "I'm sure we will get a consensus of something like one million barrels a day," he told reporters.
Iraq is a member of the 11-member cartel, but has not been part of OPEC's quota system since the 1991 Gulf War, after which the United Nations implemented an oil-for-food arrangement on its oil exports.
Rachid said that Iraq would approach "exports of around two million" barrels a day in March. Iraqi exports have been fitful at best since Baghdad implemented an embargo last year amid a row with the UN over pricing under the oil-for-food deal.
Kuwaiti Oil Minister Adel el-Sebeih however remain tight-lipped as he arrived in Vienna late Wednesday.
"We do not have a specific number," he said. "We have to wait until we have discussed with our colleagues."—AFP.
©--Agence France Presse 2001.
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
