OPEC Chief Pushes Back Against IEA Criticism Over Gulf Oil Producers' Reliability

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais has defended the reliability of Gulf oil producers in response to criticism from International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol. In an opinion article published on OPEC's official website, Al Ghais argued that Gulf producers have a long history of reliable energy supplies and have continued to supply crude oil and petroleum products through multiple regional and global crises over several decades.

Al Ghais noted that Gulf producers have maintained spare production capacity at their own expense to help stabilize global markets during periods of disruption. He stressed that the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz is a result of a military conflict affecting a key maritime route, rather than a failure by producers to meet their contractual obligations.

The OPEC secretary general also argued that international organizations should promote dialogue between producers and consumers rather than question the credibility of oil-exporting countries. He concluded that questioning the reliability of Gulf producers during an ongoing crisis could undermine confidence and negatively affect future investment in the energy sector.