OPEC Secretary General Marks 65th Anniversary, Says Oil to Remain Vital for Decades

Vienna, September 14, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said on Sunday that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will remain a source of stability in global energy markets and that oil will continue to play a vital role in the decades ahead.

In a statement marking OPEC’s 65th anniversary, Al Ghais underlined the importance of oil and petroleum products to daily life, noting their role in transportation, construction, food production, and healthcare. He said societal and economic prosperity “depend on oil and petroleum-derived products.”

Founded in 1960 and registered with the United Nations in 1962, OPEC currently has 12 member countries. Al Ghais said the group’s influence grew further in 2016 with the Declaration of Cooperation, which brought together OPEC and non-OPEC producers in the OPEC+ framework, helping stabilize markets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking ahead, he cited OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025, which projects oil demand rising to around 123 million barrels a day by 2050, driven by global population and economic growth. He stressed that energy security “is inconceivable without oil” and called for an inclusive approach that balances social, economic, and environmental needs across all energy sources and technologies.

Al Ghais dismissed predictions of peak oil in the near future, saying OPEC’s history and global energy demand point to the organization’s continued importance.

“As we celebrate OPEC’s 65th anniversary and its achievements, we look forward to a future in which OPEC is here to stay for another 65 years and more,” he said.