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MOSCOW / Reuters
A planned gathering of Russian oil firms and President Vladimir Putin which was expected to discuss possible output curbs has been delayed until after OPEC holds its Vienna meeting on Nov. 30, two energy industry sources said.
The meeting of Russia’s energy industry commission, which had been scheduled for Nov. 23, has been put back to Dec. 19, the two sources said, without explaining the reason for the postponement.
Industry sources said last month the commission meeting was to discuss output curbs along with other questions.
The two sources did not say on Monday whether another meeting between senior Russian officials and oil companies could happen before the OPEC meeting at the end of the month.
Russia is working with global oil producers’ group OPEC, of which it is not a member, to try to hammer out a deal aimed at curbing oil production and supporting depressed crude prices.
A Russian energy ministry spokeswoman declined to comment on the energy industry commission meeting when contacted by Reuters. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not reply to a text message seeking comment.
Igor Sechin, the influential head of Russia’s biggest oil firm Rosneft and an ally of Putin, is secretary of the commission whose meeting has been postponed.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said last week that Russia was ready to cap output for six months or longer if OPEC reached an agreement on November 30.