Venezuela’s Oil Minister Due in Iran Soon: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Venezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino is scheduled to pay an official visit to Iran in coming days to hold talks with senior Iranian oil officials, a report said Friday.
Del Pino announced that he will travel to Tehran after visiting his Russian and Qatari peers on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.
The statement added that the Venezuelan oil minister is also scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia after his Iran’s trip.
Beginning on Saturday, his visits to OPEC and non-OPEC countries are aimed at drumming up support for action to stem the tumble in crude prices.
"These are four key countries we'll be meeting as part of the formal proposal Venezuela made to OPEC and non-OPEC countries," said Del Pino, who is also head of state oil company PDVSA, according to a statement from the firm, Reuters reported.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is considering a request from cash-strapped Venezuela to hold an emergency meeting. President Nicolas Maduro's government wants that to happen in February and is seeking that non-OPEC producers attend.
Del Pino will meet Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak on Monday and the country's leading oil producers the following day, PDVSA said. On Wednesday Del Pino will meet Qatar Energy Minister and current OPEC president Mohammed al-Sada.
