The Nigerian Mohammed Barkindo, secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has died this Tuesday in his native country at the age of 63.
"Without a doubt, a great loss for his family, our country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), OPEC and the world energy community," said Mele Kyari, head of the state-owned NNPC and who has announced the loss. The causes of death are unknown at the moment.
Barkindo had met this Tuesday with the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, and had opened some energetic days in the country. In them he said the oil and gas industry is "beleaguered" due to years of underinvestment and that allowing oil trade from Iran and Venezuela could help resolve the current market supply shortage.
"His death is a profound loss for the OPEC family, the oil industry and the international community," the organization said on social media. "The tragedy is a shock," he points out between condolences to his family and thanks for Barkindo's 40 years of collaborative work with the entity. "His dedication and leadership will inspire OPEC for many years to come."
The person in charge was appointed general secretary in mid-2016 and was in the last days of his mandate. During his tenure, in which he dealt with a drop in crude oil prices after the highs of previous years, he guided OPEC towards greater cooperation with producers outside the organization, mainly Russia under the figure of OPEC. .
Barkindo, who was already interim secretary general of the Vienna-based organization in 2006, had extensive experience in the oil industry in his country, starting in 1982 at the Nigerian Mining Corporation, and was president of the NNPC between 2009 and 2010. He was also a director at Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, a joint venture between NNPC and giants in the sector such as Shell, Total and Eni.
According to the statutes of the organization, a person can only remain for two terms of three years in the highest position of the organization that today has thirteen member countries. Since Barkindo's second and last term was due to expire on the 31st of this month, OPEC ministers have already appointed his replacement, Kuwaiti Haitham al-Ghais.
After leaving OPEC, Barkindo was to join the US Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center.
