By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Congo’s Hydrocarbons Minister Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua says his country is committed to collaboration with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The assurance on Saturday comes days after neighbouring Angola decided to leave the organization, citing oil quota concerns.
“The Republic of Congo reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the strategic policy defined by the Secretary-General of OPEC and OPEC+,” Itoua said in a LinkedIn post.
“Congo is committed to continuing close and constructive collaboration with all member countries.”
Congo, which became a full member of OPEC in 2018, has been allocated a target of 277,000 barrels per day (bpd) for 2024 by the Saudi-led oil producer group.
Similarly, Nigeria on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to OPEC.
The country’s position remained unwavering, the minister of state for petroleum Heineken Lokpobiri said.
Nigeria, which is Africa’s biggest oil producer, and Angola were among several countries given lower output targets for 2024 after years of failing to meet previous ones.
Angola’s Oil Minister Diamantino Azevedo on Thursday said OPEC no longer serves the country’s interests.
It joins other mid-sized producers — Ecuador and Qatar that have left the organization in the last decade.
