Coronavirus: OPEC Cancels Meeting, Opts For Teleconference

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may cancel a meeting scheduled for 3rd to 6th of March due to concerns of the outbreak Coronavirus (COVID-19) and may now consider the possibility of holding its subsequent meetings via teleconferencing.

OPEC Secretary-General, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, disclosed this in a letter addressed to the president, co-chairs of the OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting, a copy which was made available to THE WHISTLER on Monday.

Barkindo, in the letter, briefed the aforementioned on his interactions with the Austrian authorities with regard to monitoring the status and most recent developments on COVID-19 emergency in that country.

He said, “With regard to forthcoming meetings next week, we have been advised to explore the possibility of a teleconference as a mean of conducting our planned meetings. The OPEC is classified as part of the International Community domiciled in Vienna, Austria, in which the Austrian Government attaches a special importance.

“The diversity of 24 countries in the DoC and more than half of them being reported with COVID-19 infection case call for highest attention for precautionary measures. It was particularly emphasized that under given circumstances, the health and safety of the international community, staff and delegations visiting the country are of utmost priority and concern for the Austrian Government.

“I would, therefore, like to bring to your kind attention and inform you, Excellencies, about the urgency of the matter in view of rapidly spreading COVID-19, and precautionary measures that are necessary to consider in conducting our planned meetings between 3 and 6 March, 2020 at the OPEC Headquarters in Vienna, Austria,” he said.

Barkindo said the Austrian government already formed a COVID-19 crisis management committee which constitutes the foreign ministry.