OPEC countries will have to increase oil production again - president of OPEC conference

/IRBIS, Apr.4, 00/ - PRIME-TASS informs, with the reference to recently elected president of OPEC conference minister of energy and mining industry of Venezuela Ali Rodriguez, that on Monday he said OPEC countries would have to increase oil production again considering the demand on the world market. It is expected that total supply will be increased in June 2000. Analysts estimate that demand for oil on the world market usually shrinks till the end of the second quarter. He said oil importers would increase purchases in late June and OPEC would have to increase the production then. The growth of the world economy by 3.5% proves the assumptions regarding future increase in demand. The highest growth is seen in the USA, the biggest consumer of energy, at 7%. OPEC agreed to increase the production by 1.45 mln barrels a day in Vienna, while independent oil producers Mexico and Norway increase their quota by 150 and 100 th. barrels, respectively.