Russia announced yesterday that it has no plans to join the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). “It’s widely known that Russia has contacts on the expert level with representatives from OPEC, but as far as I know, the question of Russia joining this organisation hasn’t been put forward and isn’t on the agenda,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by Sputnik news agency.
Peskov’s comment came in response to an earlier statement by Igor Sechin, the head of Russia’s Rosneft oil giant, who said that there were no advantages of Russia’s membership in OPEC. Oil prices have dropped significantly so far in the second half of 2015 compared to summer 2014, falling from $100 to $43 per barrel for Brent crude. — PressTV



