U.S. energy secretary pushes oil diplomacy

Copyright 2000, Reuters
March 19, 2000 

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson embarks today on a new round of energy diplomacy, meeting with officials from OPEC members Nigeria, Indonesia and Algeria to urge them to increase oil production, the White House said.

Richardson's trip comes just a week before the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries meets in Vienna to decide whether to ramp up production to help close a 2 million barrel-per-day shortfall in world oil supplies.

Richardson's itinerary is not being released. The White House said Richardson is going to Nigeria, Indonesia and Algeria but a government official said Richardson would not necessarily make a stop in each of the countries.

The official said Richardson would be away for one week.

Richardson will also meet with the oil minister of the United Arab Emirates, an OPEC member, and energy officials from countries in the International Energy Agency, the official said.

On Saturday, Richardson met in California with Saudi Arabia's oil minister. The energy secretary will speak with Kuwait's oil minister by telephone, the official said.

"We continue to believe that it is in the interest of both oil producers and oil consumers alike to have a steady and reliable flow of oil, one in which supply does not fall short of demand," said White House Chief of Staff John Podesta.

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