Family members of Nigeria, African, and global oil and gas sectors are shocked by the news of the sudden death of the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), His Excellency, Muhammad Sansui Barkindo, in Nigeria on July 5, 2022, at age 63. This was confirmed in a statement by the African Energy Chamber (AEC), describing his death as "an immeasurable loss."
The AEC, in their condolence message, said, "The legacy left behind by H.E. Barkindo will be remembered by the global energy community for years to come." The release went on, "His Excellency Barkindo has dedicated his life and career to growing the Nigerian, African, and global oil and gas sectors."
The late man's journey with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) started in 1986, as Nigeria’s delegation to the organization. His role in the organization grew from acting OPEC Secretary-General in 2006 to Nigeria's representative on the OPEC’s Board of Governors from 2009 to 2010, and in 2016, he was appointed Secretary-General, with reappointment for an additional three years (2019).
According to AEC, before his role in OPEC, the late oil and gas veteran was a leading figure in the Nigerian energy space, having served as an advisor to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, and OPEC Secretary-General, H.E. Dr. Rilwanu Lukman KBE, Deputy Managing Director of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas and Group Managing Director and CEO of the NNPC.
He had been a leader of Nigeria’s technical delegation to the UN climate change negotiations since 1991, served as chair of the Group of 77 and China at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and was elected to serve three terms as Vice President of the Conference of the Parties – COP13, COP14, and COP15.
However, H.E. Barkindo’s true achievements came in his tenure as Secretary-General of OPEC. Representing the longest-serving delegate to OPEC, H.E. Barkindo navigated through and oversaw some of the most turbulent periods in the history of the organization. This started with the creation of the OPEC+ coalition a few months after his appointment as head of the organization, with H.E. Barkindo ushering in a new, unprecedented era for the organization and once-unimaginable partnerships with non-member countries including Russia. In less than a year following his appointment, H.E. Barkindo took the organization to greater heights, uniting global energy producers in a feat of diplomacy.
The late Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), His Excellency, Muhammad Sansui Barkindo
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