OPEC mourns oldest surviving member

The Organisation of Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) says it is saddened by the news of the passing of one of the oldest surviving members of the organisation, Abdullah Ismail.

The deceased was present at the ‘Baghdad Conference’ when the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded on September 14, 1960.

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The OPEC Secretariat extends its deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Ismail was the last surviving delegate from the historic ‘Baghdad Conference’.

He was at the time Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Oil, playing an important role in the Iraqi delegation to the conference in support of the then Head of Delegation, Dr Tala’at al-Shaibani. Ismail worked for Iraq’s Ministry of Oil from 1952 to 1968.

OPEC Secretary-General, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, said: “Abdullah Ismail had a long and distinguished career in the petroleum industry, and served two OPEC Member Countries. The OPEC Secretariat reflects on his contribution to OPEC’s history with great respect and pride.”