OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais has praised Baku’s historic contribution to the global oil industry, describing the Azerbaijani capital as a city of major milestones and innovation in energy history, EDnews report.
Speaking at the inaugural Technical Committee meeting of the OPEC+ Charter of Cooperation (CoC) in Baku, Al Ghais said the city is not only the cradle of the global oil industry but also a place where many significant developments in oil production first took place.
He highlighted the strong relationship between OPEC and Azerbaijan, saying cooperation has deepened through the Declaration of Cooperation, the OPEC+ framework and other joint mechanisms.
Al Ghais noted Azerbaijan’s pioneering achievements in the oil sector, including the drilling of some of the world’s first known offshore oil wells in 1803 near Baku, the launch of the first mechanically drilled oil well in Bibiheybat in 1846, the construction of the first wooden oil rig in 1871, and the creation of the world’s first oil tanker in 1877.
He said these historic achievements underline Azerbaijan’s lasting role in shaping the development of the global energy industry.
