Russia, which last week expressed interest in becoming a member of the Organization of Petroleum Producing Countries-OPEC, has not made a formall request for membership, Ali Rodrigues OPEC President and Venezuela's Energy Ministry said Saturday, reported The Associated Press.
"No formal requests for new memberships have been presented," said Ali Rodriguez, who spoke during a pre-OPEC summit conference.
On Tuesday Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Valero said that Russia "may manifest an interest in joining the (OPEC)."
Rodriguez also restated a warning that an energy crisis is in the horizon if worldwide refining and production capacity doesn't grow. OPEC estimates that taxes and refining activities contribute to 84% of gasoline prices while the price of crude contributes 16 percent.
The 11-country member cartel produces just under 40 percent of the world's oil output. Venezuela is currently preparing OPEC's II heads of state summit to be held September 26-28 in Caracas..
( petroleumworld )
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