ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has died, Nigerian authorities announced Wednesday, just one day after he’d met with Nigeria’s president in the capital, Abuja, and defended the energy industry at an oil conference.
Mohammad Barkindo, 63, died late Tuesday in Abuja, a spokesman for Nigeria’s petroleum ministry told The Associated Press. The reason for his death was not immediately known. The Vienna-based oil cartel, known as OPEC, did not immediately comment.
His death came as a surprise to industry insiders. His second term as head of OPEC was set to end in three weeks on July 31.