Eight energy ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Argentina, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Turkey and Romania have opted to remain absent, organisers of World Petroleum Congress say.
Several countries have decide to stay away from the World Petroleum Congress (WPC) that will kick off this week in the Houston city of United States, organisers have said.
Eight energy ministers – from Saudi, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Argentina, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Turkey and Romania – bowed out, WPC officials said on Sunday.
The chief executives of oil companies BP, Sonatrach and Qatar Energy also withdrew.
This year’s four-day event, rescheduled from 2020 due to the
pandemic, brings together the industry’s main players about
every three years.
It was expected to feature officials from
countries including Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, India and the United
States discussing the role of new technologies and low-carbon
strategies.
But travel restrictions and worries over the new variant had
organisers scrambling on Sunday to fill gaps in the agenda.
The high-level absences resulted from “travel restrictions
and concerns” about the new variant, organisers said.
The
conference will proceed and replacements for some speakers are
being sought, a spokesperson said.
READ MORE:
Omicron variant detected in at least 15 US states but Delta reigns
Climate crisis and virus
The impact of the virus comes as the industry struggles with
shortages of natural gas and power in Asia and Europe from
output losses prompted by the pandemic. Multi-year-high energy
prices recently retraced gains with new lockdowns.
Oil futures fell for the last six weeks, settling on
Friday at $69.88 a barrel, down 19 percent from the year’s peak in late
October.
OPEC, the oil producing nations group, last week agreed
to continue its gradual relaxation of oil production curbs, but
cautioned it could reverse itself if the coronavirus reduces
fuel demand.
The discovery of the new, fast-spreading variant is
overshadowing another pressing topic for those who are gathering
in Houston.
Faced with growing pressure over climate crisis concerns, oil producers must contend with government demands for
lower-carbon emissions and a shift to cleaner fuels.
Monday’s conference session is scheduled to begin with
executives from Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Saudi Aramco, Equinor and
Total Energies laying out their approaches to the world’s
transition away from fossil fuels.
On Tuesday, OPEC General Secretary Mohammad Barkindo is due
to deliver his remarks remotely due to travel restrictions.
READ MORE:
US ramps up pandemic response as Omicron fears grow
Source: Reuters
Countries bow out of top US energy summit over Omicron fears
Source: Pinay Pop Showbiz
