The decision on whether to raise oil production as planned will hinge on the current global supply situation influenced by recent U.S. sanctions.
Vienna – Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies (OPEC+) are deliberating whether to proceed with a planned increase in oil production for April or to maintain current output levels, according to sources within OPEC.
These discussions are occurring against the backdrop of recent U.S. sanctions affecting Venezuela, Iran, and Russia, which have significantly influenced the global oil supply landscape.
The OPEC+ group has a deadline to finalize their production plan for April between March 5 and March 7, yet a consensus has not yet been reached, according to some sources.
Within OPEC, the United Arab Emirates, along with Russia, has expressed a desire to continue increasing production.
Conversely, other members, including Saudi Arabia, are advocating for postponement of any increase.
Pressure from the U.S. government has intensified, particularly following a spike in oil prices above $82 per barrel in January, which marked several-month highs.
In response to the rising prices, President
Joe Biden implemented new energy-related sanctions against Russia, prompting former President
Donald Trump to urge OPEC to lower oil prices.
Since then, oil prices have decreased to about $73 per barrel, driven by expectations that Trump may facilitate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, potentially easing supply constraints on Russian oil.
However, Trump’s initiatives to completely halt Iranian oil exports and a recent withdrawal of a license for Chevron to operate in Venezuela have prevented a further decline in oil prices.