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Haitham Al-Ghais: My unanimous recommendation as Secretary-General of (OPEC) reflects the country's prestigious and influential position within the organization

03-01-2022

The new Secretary-General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) of Kuwait, Haitham Al-Ghees, said that the recommendation obtained on Monday by all OPEC member states to fill this position as of next August "reflects the prestigious and influential position of the State of Kuwait within it." This came in a statement made by Al-Ghais to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after unanimously recommending Secretary General for three years to succeed Nigerian Muhammad Barkindo during the special ministerial meeting held today (remotely) to appoint the new Secretary-General. Al-Ghayes, who served as the Governor of the State of Kuwait in the Organization (2017-2021), expressed his sincere thanks to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for their unlimited support and lofty trust in him as a candidate for the State of Kuwait for this "important" position. He explained that his recommendation by the 13 OPEC member states is the result of strenuous efforts and hard work for nearly three months under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy of Kuwait, Dr. Mohammed Al-Faris. Al-Ghayes, who is currently Deputy Managing Director of the Global Marketing Sector at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, added that "the selection of the Secretary-General at the (OPEC) ministerial meetings so quickly is a historic decision and a clear message on the status of the State of Kuwait, thanking all Member States" for the messages of support and good words against the State of Kuwait and his personal right. The former Chairman of the Joint Technical Committee for Production Control in the (OPEC+) Alliance of Oil Producers from inside and outside the Organization (2017) said that he will take over the duties of his new position early next August, indicating that he has aspirations and ideas to present in coordination with member states aimed at promoting OPEC and facing the near and medium future challenges in terms of maintaining the balance and stability of oil markets. The long-term challenge is to consider the role of the organization in discussions on climate change and the so-called energy transition and the role of oil in the energy mix, he said, stressing that he seeks to achieve the ambition of all member states. Earlier in the day, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy announced the support of all SCO member states for the candidate of the State of Kuwait to assume this position. Al-Ghais has extensive experience of about 30 years in the field of international oil markets and the oil industry and has a wide attendance and participation in many international oil conferences and forums. He was included in the global marketing sector at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation in various sales departments and headed the company's regional offices in Beijing and London and was the director of its research department.