Kuwait’s Haitham Al Ghai assumes office as OPEC secretary-general

Haitham Al Ghais, a Kuwaiti oil and gas veteran, has formally assumed office as the new secretary-general of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Al-Ghais succeeds Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, the oil cartel’s previous secretary-general, who died on July 5.

OPEC announced this in a statement on Monday, following his appointment in January.

“OPEC today welcomed its new secretary-general, Haitham Al Ghais of Kuwait. Al Ghais was appointed by acclamation for the post for a three-year term at the special meeting of the OPEC conference held on 3 January 2022,” the statement reads.

“He, Al Ghais, is a widely respected oil technocrat and OPEC figure with 30 years of experience in the oil sector.

“He advised six Kuwaiti oil ministers on market developments and has served as Kuwait’s governor for OPEC, chairman of the Declaration of Cooperation’s (DoC) Joint Technical Committee (JTC) and Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC) deputy managing director for international marketing.”

OPEC today welcomed its new Secretary General, HE Haitham Al Ghais of Kuwait. HE Al Ghais was appointed by acclamation for the post for a three-year term at the Special Meeting of the OPEC Conference held on 3 January 2022. pic.twitter.com/5s92R3BUOE

— OPEC (@OPECSecretariat) August 1, 2022