Robin Pagnamenta and Agencies
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Oil prices soared to fresh highs of more than $126 this afternoon, lifted by a new round of speculative buying after Opec brushed aside US calls for an increase in production, insisting that the market remained well-supplied.
New York’s main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for June delivery, touched a high of $126.20 while London’s Brent crude contract hit an all-time record of $125.90. Oil prices have risen 25 per cent since the beginning of the year and more than doubled compared to this time last year when it was trading at $62 per barrel.
Today’s rally was driven largely by speculative buying from funds, following comments by Abdalla Salem El-Badri, secretary general of Opec, the cartel of 13 countries which produces 40 per cent of the world’s oil, who said: "There is clearly no shortage of oil in the market."
At the same time, there are concerns that violence in Nigeria will also impact production. Royal Dutch Shell Plc's Nigerian output, which was cut by militant attacks, is likely to return within two weeks, a government official said yesterday. Shell is losing about 164,000 barrels a day as a result of political violence in the country.
Opec’s current output is around 32 million barrels per day, compared with global production of 85 million barrels. El-Badri also underscored Opec's view that price volatility has been driven by speculation by hedge funds.
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It is time for governments to display some intestinal fortitude and regulate industry into becoming green. If we leave it to the free market then the vested interests in the powerful non-renewable resource sector will continue to ensure nothing changes, much to our, and our planets, detriment.
Adam, Toowoomba, Australia
Oil at 200 dollars would still be cheap. We need to be more energy efficient especially in the US.
peter mccullagh, omagh, ireland
Matt of Las Vegas, any alternative is going to be vastly more expensive than pumping high energy oil out of the ground. To all those calling for price reductions I wonder if they would agree if America was still a net producer!
Clive Stringer, Eggesford, Devon
Matt does have a point.Just look how technology advanced in World War 2.If oil becomes too expensive,those that develop new forms of energy will prosper.
stephen hulton, eure, france
The oil prices increases are creating a financial crisis. It will leave governments with no other option than to fast track the new technologies as "Matt from Los Vegas" has indicated do exist. Money at the end of the day is the factor that will drive the change to renewable energy.
Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia
A lot of the "oil" problems would simply go away if most countries invested in technology that will (a) produce electricity using new technologies and (b) put sweat equity into technologies that have cars go either electric or hydrogen-based. The technology is there NOW but is being blocked.
Matt, Las Vegas, United States
This is a fixed price industry and the myth of oil shortages will continue whilst oil companies are allowed to get away with vast profits. Until the cartel of oil companies is broken the rip off will continue.
norman hall, norwich, uk
With shutdowns due shortly the turmoil in the oil/gas industry continues!
The industry is overwhelmed and unable to fill the increasing demands ....the oil price will always rise!.
Will the shortage of new vessels for construction, survey etc, force clients with little or no choice today!!!
andrew laing , ABERDEEEN, SCOTLAND
When people stated that oil could rise to $200 by the end of the year,my initial react was no-way.Now I'm not sure and things could get very nasty I fear.Maybe,if the US increased interest rates people would invest in dollars and not oil?
stephen hulton, eure, france