Nigerian Oil Technocrat, Mohammed Barkindo Lead Others In Race To Become OPEC Boss

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A Nigerian oil technocrat has emerged as frontrunner to take the top job at OPEC, with members seeing Mohammed Barkindo as what would be a rare compromise candidate to lead the group amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Reuters reports.

Barkindo has been a key face of the Nigerian oil industry for the past decade, during which various governments tried and effectively failed to reform national oil company NNPC. OPEC is likely to choose Barkindo, a former head of NNPC, as the next secretary-general of the producer group, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has since 2012 been looking for a replacement for Libya’s Abdullah al-Badri, who was elected acting secretary-general in December until the end of July after serving full terms. However, Barkindo’s appointment was by no means certain and Badri’s tenure could yet be extended by another six months, some sources said. OPEC oil ministers will meet on Thursday in Vienna.

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