Algerian Energy Minister Nouredine Bouterfa plans to meet his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak in Moscow this week, an official with the Algerian embassy in Russia told Reuters.
Venezuela’s oil minister will visit Algiers on Monday and then head to Moscow with his Algerian counterpart ahead of OPEC talks in Vienna, Algeria’s energy ministry said earlier in the week.
Bouterfa has been holding discussions with OPEC and non-OPEC counterparts to try to forge consensus over a production cut proposed in Algiers in September. OPEC member states are due to meet in Vienna on Wednesday.
The official at the Algerian embassy said Bouterfa plans to arrive in Moscow late on Monday, with talks with Novak scheduled for Tuesday. She did not provide other details. A spokesman for the Venezuelan embassy declined immediate comment.
Russia’s energy ministry did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. Over the last months, Russia’s oil output has reached post-Soviet highs and Moscow has repeatedly said it would be ready to freeze, not to cut, its production.
OPEC experts are meeting in Vienna next week and are due to make recommendations to their ministers on how exactly the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries should reduce production when it meets on November 30th.
