Congo-Brazzaville welcomes for its very first time, an official of the Organization of Petroleum Producing Countries (OPEC). OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo arrived in Congo-Brazzaville on Sunday evening and will stay there until August 25, 2021.

The 4th producer of black gold south of the Sahara receives the Secretary General of OPEC. During his stay, scheduled until August 25, the Secretary General of OPEC must meet several officials, including Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso and Head of State Denis Sassou Nguesso, and visit at least one platform off the coast of Pointe-Noire, the economic capital (south). Arrived in the evening at Brazzaville airport from Nigeria, Mr. Barkindo was welcomed by Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Congolese Minister of Hydrocarbons. Recognized as the fourth largest oil producer south of the Sahara, far behind Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville joined OPEC in 2018. “Congo has an essential role to play in the industry world energy and OPEC plans to encourage it,” said Mohammed Barkindo, quoted in a press release. With a coastline of 170 km, the Congo became an oil producer and exporter from 1973, relegating wood to second place. Officially, the country's proven reserves are 2.9 billion barrels. Its daily production is 336,000 barrels.