Oil prices surge over $75 a barrel to a record high

Friday, April 21, 2006 

Lack of spare capacity in oil production and refining are keeping prices high

Crude oil prices surged to a new record of over $75.00 a barrel on Tuesday closing at a price of $75.17. In Europe, Brent crude oil] rose to $74.59. In less than a month, prices have risen $10, back to the record highs set after Hurricane Katrina caused refineries to shut down in August 2005. Prices are also 42% higher than a year ago.

Political instability in oil-producing countries is seen as a major cause of this rise. The standoff over Iran's nuclear program has led to strong words being exchanged and a possibility of sanctions being imposed on Iran, the world's fourth largest producer of oil. Violence in Nigeria earlier this year has led to a drop the country's production by almost a quarter. Nigeria is Africa's largest oil exporter and is also a major supplier of gasoline-rich crude oil to the United States, where demand is set to increase as the "driving season" begins next month.

Edmund Daukoru, the president of OPEC and Nigerian oil minister said on Tuesday, "The current shoot up we are experiencing is as a result of the Iran problems and it's not helped by the flare up between Israel and the Palestinians. But mainly it's the threatening statements being made against Iran as a result of its nuclear program."

Related news

• "Kucinich asks Bush about alleged US support for armed insurgency in Iran" — Wikinews, April 21, 2006

Sources

• Steve Hargreaves. "Oil breaks through record $75" — CNN, April 21, 2006
• "Oil prices hit record $75 US a barrel" — CBC News, April 21, 2006
• Mark Shenk. "Oil Rises to a Record $71.60 in New York as Iran Supply Concern" — Bloomberg, April 18, 2006
• "Oil hits record $72 on Iran fears" — Reuters, April 18, 2006

External links

• "Commodities" — CNN, April 21, 2006