OPEC

On the sidelines of SPIEF 2026, HE Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General, held a constructive meeting with HE Ricardo Menéndez, Sectoral Vice President for Planning of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and his accompanying delegation.

HE Menendez expressed his appreciation to the efforts placed by OPEC and OPEC+ in enabling sustainable oil market stability and underlined the importance of such ongoing efforts for Venezuela and its national economic growth and development plans.

HE Al Ghais acknowledged the role of Venezuela in OPEC under the able leadership of HE Dr Delcy Rodriguez, Acting President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in supporting the decisions of the OPEC and non-OPEC Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) since 2016, and appreciated Venezuela’s role as a founding member of OPEC over the years and decades.

HE Al Ghais also commended the efforts being undertaken by the Venezuelan Government and its oil and gas sector in restoring stability and growth to the critically important energy sector of the country and highlighted its importance for the national economy.

OPEC Secretary General, HE Haitham Al Ghais, participated today in a Ministerial Panel Session on ‘Global Energy Systems: How the World’s Energy Sector Responds to Challenges and Risks’ during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2026 (SPIEF) in Russia.

In his remarks, HE Al Ghais underscored the pivotal role of OPEC and the countries participating in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC), highlighting the DoC’s role in promoting energy dialogue and cooperation, thereby supporting the stability of the oil market, as well as safeguarding the long-term interests of both producers and consumers as well as the overall global economy.

Other high-level dignitaries in the session included HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, HE Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, HE Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Egypt, HE Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, HE Dr Philip Mshelbila, GECF Secretary General, Mr Kirill Dmitriev, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and Mr Alexander Dyukov, Chairman of Gazprom Neft.

HE Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General, met with HE Dr Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) on the sidelines of SPIEF 2026.

HE Al Ghais highlighted the valuable bonds of mutually beneficial collaboration between OPEC and the GECF, and emphasized the importance of continued communication, collaboration on technical matters and data exchange.

The meeting marked the first official engagement between HE Al Ghais and HE Dr Philip Mshelbila, since he assumed office as GECF Secretary General on 1 January 2026. Both sides agreed to continue enhancing their ongoing Energy Dialogue at both technical and high level.

HE Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Co-Chair of OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting welcomed HE Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General, to the 2026 edition of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) being held in St. Petersburg, Russia from 3-6 June 2026.

In a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the event, HE Al Ghais reiterated his appreciation to HE Deputy Prime Minister Novak for his continued support and the valuable contributions of the Russian Federation under the umbrella of the OPEC and non-OPEC Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) and the Charter of Cooperation (CoC).

The Declaration of Cooperation is set to commemorate its tenth anniversary later this year, on 10 December 2026.

Today, the OPEC Secretariat welcomed groups from Oklahoma Christian University and Koblenz University of Applied Sciences for an informative briefing on the Organization’s role in the global energy landscape.

The visit provided an opportunity for students and faculty to learn more about OPEC’s objectives, key activities, and contributions to promoting stability and sustainable development in the oil market.

>> Visit our website for group visit inquiries: https://t.co/1CwUxEQKoc

The OPEC Secretariat held a Statistical Capacity Building Workshop today for technical delegates from Member Country Libya.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide a collaborative platform for data sharing and technical engagement between the OPEC Secretariat and member country Libya, and to drive continuous improvements in data exchange and deepen understanding of relevant methodologies.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr Ayed Al-Qahtani, the Director of Research Division, noted that “statistical capacity building workshops such as this serve as vital tools for OPEC to support our Member Countries and reinforce the guiding principles of the Organization, including the promotion of credibility, integrity, and transparency in decision-making.”

The OPEC’s Economic Commission Board (ECB) successfully concluded their 145th Meeting today, under the chairmanship of Secretary General HE , with the participation of the National Representatives of OPEC Member Countries.

In his concluding remarks, HE Al Ghais extended his sincere appreciation to each of the esteemed members of the ECB for their insightful contributions in advancing the common goal of enhancing oil market stability.

The outcome of the meeting will provide essential technical inputs for the 193rd Meeting of the OPEC Conference and the 41st OPEC and Non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting to be held on Sunday, 7 June 2026.

The 145th Meeting of OPEC’s Economic Commission Board (ECB) scheduled for June 1-2 commenced today under the chairmanship of Secretary General HE , and is attended by National Representatives of OPEC Member Countries.

Reflecting on current events, HE Al Ghais highlighted that “recent history attests to the resilience of the global economy and the oil market. During the volatile COVID-19 days, many feared lasting disruption. Yet both recovered strongly, demonstrating the adaptability and endurance of our industry, and the ever-growing demand for oil and its products. ”

HE Al Ghais reiterated the important role that the twice-yearly meetings of the ECB plays in OPEC decision-making, with the current meeting providing essential technical inputs for the upcoming 193rd Meeting of the OPEC Conference and the 41st OPEC and Non- OPEC Ministerial Meeting.