Energy Sector

OPEC crude price drops below 70 dollars

Vienna - Declining by nearly 5 dollars, the price for crude oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has fallen below 70 dollars, OPEC said Thursday.

One barrel (159 litres) of OPEC crude stood at 68.58 dollars Wednesday, 4.91 dollars lower than 73.49 dollars on the previous day.

Citing the negative effect of the financial crisis on global oil demand, the cartel lowered its global crude oil demand forecast for 2009 by 450,000 barrels per day, to an average 87.2 million barrels per day.

The group's oil ministers are set to gather for an extraordinary session in Vienna on November 18 to discuss possible production cuts in reaction to falling oil prices.

OPEC crude price stronger on Tuesday

Vienna - The price for crude oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose by 1.53 dollars Tuesday, staying below the 75-dollar mark, OPEC said Wednesday.

EU to push for gas sharing in crisis, African, Caspian supplies

EU to push for gas sharing in crisis, African, Caspian supplies Brussels - The European Union's member states should be able to react to sudden gas shut-offs by transferring part of their own consumption to fellow-members, the French government is set to say at an EU summit in Brussels on Wednesday.

And the EU should try to obtain more energy from Africa and hold a "high-level meeting" with the countries of the Caspian basin and transit states such as Turkey and Georgia in spring 2009 in a bid to kick-start the diversification of gas supplies, the proposal adds.

Further slip of OPEC crude price on Monday

Further slip of OPEC crude price on MondayVienna - The price for crude

Pakistan warns water dispute with India may threaten peace talks

Pakistani President Asif Ali ZardariIslamabad - Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari warned that any breach of a river water-sharing treaty by India will be detrimental to the peace process between the nuclear-armed neighbours, media reports said on Monday.

The statement came two days after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the controversial 450-megawatt Baglihar hydroelectric project over the Chenab River that flows from Indian-administered Kashmir into Pakistan.

OPEC to meet in November as crude price stays below 80 dollars

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting CountriesVienna - The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) scheduled a special meeting in November, as the cartel's crude price remained below 80 dollars for the second day in a row on Thursday.

One barrel (159 litres) of OPEC crude stood at 78.25 dollars Thursday, rising 0.87 dollars from 77.38 dollars on the previous day, according to figures released by the cartel on Friday.

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