Novak: Discussion of oil output freeze not on agenda of bilateral meetings in Algeria
According to Russian energy minister, the main purpose of the meeting is to discuss bilateral trade, economic cooperation and joint projects between Russia and Algeria
VLADIVOSTOK, September 8. /TASS/. Discussion of the oil production "freeze" is not on the agenda of the coming meeting between Russian and Algerian Energy Ministers, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with TASS.
"As for the freezing of oil production, the discussion of this topic is not on the agenda," he said.
According to the minister, the main purpose of the meeting is to discuss bilateral trade and economic cooperation and joint projects.
"As the Co-Chairman of the intergovernmental commission with Algeria I supervise not only relations in energy sector, but also trade and economic cooperation in general. I should note that the Algerian Minister was only recently appointed and this is his first international visit. We have a list of issues that we are discussing within the cooperation, in particular, joint projects," Novak said.
Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa is to visit Moscow later this month.
Also, on September 26-28, Algeria will host the International Energy Forum, where oil exporters may hold talks on the "freeze" of oil production. Venezuela, Ecuador and Kuwait are the initiators of the discussion. Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran have already confirmed their participation in private talks.