Opec agrees record oil output cut

“If you’re not surprised we need to do something about it,” he said.

However, the markets failed to immediately rally and the price of crude oil actually sank to $40.20 following the announcement, the lowest level since the summer of 2004.

Investors cautious

The failure to restore market confidence is a clear indication that investors remain cautious that the world is in for a long, painful recession during which energy use will continue to fall.

There had also been earlier speculation the cut could be combined with a reduction of 600,000 barrels a day by non-Opec members Russia and Azerbaijan.

However, Moscow is reported to have distanced itself from direct ties with the 13-nation producers’ group, dampening hopes of further coordinated production cuts.

Although Igor Sechin, the Russian deputy prime minister, and Natik Aliev, the Azeri energy minister, announced the 600,000 barrel cut, their reductions appeared to be largely symbolic.

Russia indicated its reduction had already been implemented back in November, while Azerbaijan said its output had been reduced by a third because of production problems earlier in the year.

Falling demand

Ali al-Nuaimi, the Saudi oil minister, said: “We also hope that other producers who are not in Opec will chip in for the purpose of bringing stability to the market.”

Oil demand has dwindled in recession-hit industrialised nations, and the cut was endorsed by many of the group before the meeting in an attempt to stabilise the price.

“If unchecked, prices could fall to levels which would place in jeopardy the investments required to guarantee adequate energy supplies in the medium to long term,” a statement released by Opec said.

An overall reduction of 2.6 million barrels per day would remove about three per cent of the world’s daily output.

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Oil cut is ‘necessary’

Chekib Khelil, Opec’s president, said that the $75 a barrel price target set by King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia’s monarch, was a “fair price”.

Saadallah al-Fathi, an oil analyst based in Dubai, told Al Jazeera: “Raising oil prices will impact a lot of people in the oil-producing countries and make it possible for them to continue with their development and with their investment in the oil industry to provide more oil for the world in the future.

“At the same time they have to be cognisant of the state of the economy in the world, and they have to help the world in getting out of the recession.”

Asked if he thought $75 a barrel was a fair price for oil, he said: “If the price of oil reached $147 per barrel, I think $75 per barrel seems to be a fair price.”

Opec has cut output twice since September without halting the decline in oil prices which has slashed revenues for the group’s members and raised fears of a future supply crunch as investors pull money from costly exploration and production projects.