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Author

Wael Mahdi

Wael Mahdi is an independent energy commentator specializing on OPEC and a co-author of “OPEC in a Shale Oil World: Where to Next?”

Twitter: @waelmahdi

Latest published

OPEC+ and the baby milk price increase

To say that the alliance of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its global counterparts, known as OPEC+, is taking “shortsighted” decisions is an oversimplification of the current global energy crisis.

October 13, 2022

5 reasons why the upcoming OPEC+ meet will be an ordinary affair

By now, the speculations are high on the outcome of the OPEC+ alliance’s meeting on Aug. 3.

July 31, 2022

Secret or reality: can Aramco produce 15 million barrels a day?

I guess by now we all know that Saudi Arabia will not raise its production capacity beyond 13 million barrels a day by 2027 after the Kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made it clear in his address during the regional summit this month that was attended by US President Joe Biden.

July 25, 2022

Barkindo: A secretary-general like no other

18:31 Riyadh time: A message from Mohammed Barkindo. “You’ve indeed been a worthy ambassador to our country, President Buhari tells Barkindo, outgoing OPEC secretary- general,” the message read. 

July 06, 2022

Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia: Late or early?

From a market point of view, what signals can we get from the news that US President Joe Biden has finally decided to visit Saudi Arabia?

The easy answer is more oil supplies.

June 16, 2022

Will an A1 rating make the PIF a leader?

The headline above would be a perfect headline for a column written by some angry columnists who have their minds fixed on seeing Saudi Arabia as a country that can't advance nor could its institutions lead.

February 07, 2022

Barkindo — the last of the OPEC giants

With the departure of Nigeria’s Mohammed Barkindo, the age of the giants heading the secretariat of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will come to an end.

January 05, 2022

What does the choice of new Kuwaiti boss tell us about the future of OPEC?

I was both sad and happy when I heard yesterday that Haitham Al-Ghais has been appointed the next secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

January 04, 2022

The upside of the PIF’s absence from global top 10 wealth fund rankings

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was left out of the global top 10 rankings for sovereign wealth funds last year — but that is really a good thing.

January 02, 2022