Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)

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Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)

Overview

The Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) is an intergovernmental organization based in Kuwait that promotes cooperation among Arab oil-exporting nations. It focuses on joint ventures, coordinated use of petroleum resources, and economic integration among member states. OAPEC is distinct from OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), though some countries belong to both.

Membership and History

  • Founded in Beirut on January 9, 1968, by Kuwait, Libya, and Saudi Arabia.
  • Membership later expanded to include Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates, reaching 11 members by 1982. Tunisia requested and was granted withdrawal in 1986.
  • The organization’s headquarters are in Kuwait.

Purpose and Activities

  • Promote cooperation among Arab oil-exporting countries.
  • Sponsor joint ventures and projects to improve resource use and foster economic integration.
  • Coordinate policies and facilitate technical and commercial collaboration in the petroleum and energy sectors.

Organizational Structure

  • Ministerial Council: The primary policy-making body composed of ministers from member states. Responsibilities include setting general policy, admitting members, approving budgets, appointing senior officials (including the Secretary-General), and adopting resolutions.
  • Executive Bureau: Prepares the Council’s agenda, reviews budgets and staff regulations, and provides oversight on matters related to the Articles of Agreement. It has one representative from each member country.
  • General Secretariat: Manages day-to-day activities and implements Council directives. The Secretary-General heads the Secretariat and serves as the organization’s official spokesman and legal representative.
  • Judicial Tribunal: Established by protocol in 1978 (effective 1980) to adjudicate legal matters within OAPEC. The Tribunal is composed of an odd number of judges of Arab citizenship (minimum seven, maximum eleven).

Influence and Impact

Since its founding, OAPEC has contributed to development in the Arab energy sector:
– Significant increases in regional energy consumption and production.
– Reported growth in oil and gas reserves and a rise in petrochemical production.
– OAPEC’s influence has helped coordinate regional energy initiatives, though reserve and production figures depend on member reporting and may vary in accuracy.

Key Takeaways

  • OAPEC is a regional organization for Arab petroleum-exporting countries, separate from OPEC.
  • It operates through a Ministerial Council, Executive Bureau, General Secretariat, and a Judicial Tribunal.
  • The organization focuses on cooperation, joint projects, and economic integration of Arab energy resources.
  • Data on reserves and production reflect member-supplied information and should be interpreted with caution.