Speech by Alexey Miller at “Global Gas Markets: Energy Policy and Energy Security” Panel Session held as part of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

Benchmark Brent oil LCOc1 was down $1.45, or 2.8 percent, at $50.39 a barrel by 1157 GMT (7.57 a.m. ET), after earlier touching $50.13 a barrel, the weakest since May 10. U.S. light crude CLc1 traded at $48.43, down $1.23 cents, or 2.5 percent.

ОПЕК подтвердила свой статус авторитетной и ответственной отраслевой организации, влиятельной рыночной силы: «На протяжении текущего года мы с удовлетворением наблюдали за укреплением ОПЕК как организации, способной взять на себя ключевую роль в устранении необоснованных перекосов на рынке нефти, и стали свидетелями все возрастающей солидарности ее стран-членов, на которую смогли опереться ведущие независимые производители нефти в своем решении содействовать обеспечению рыночного баланса».

Iran has so far signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with four Russian companies for developing its oil and gas fields: Lukoil for Ab Teymour and Mansouri fields, Zarubezhneft for Aban and West Paydar fields, Tatneft for Dehloran and Shadegan fields and Gazprom for Cheshmeh Khosh and Changouleh fields.

Qatar faces rising competition from a tide of new LNG from sources including Australia, which is expected to surpass it as the world's top exporter by 2019.

Profit attributable to the owners of PJSC Gazprom for the three months ended March 31, 2017 totaled RUB 333,453 million which is RUB 28,856 million, or 8 % less than for the same period of the prior year.

“Market should play a decisive role in resource allocation and the government role should be better played in order to safeguard national energy security, boost productivity and meet people’s needs,” the reform guideline said.

Brent crude futures were trading down 19 cents at $51.96 per barrel at 0857 GMT. The contract ended the previous week down nearly 3 percent. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were also down 19 cents at $49.61 per barrel.

U.S. Rig Count is up 504 rigs from last year's count of 404, with oil rigs up 406, gas rigs up 98, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged. Canadian Rig Count is up 50 rigs from last year's count of 43, with oil rigs up 26, gas rigs up 25, and miscellaneous rigs down 1 to 0.

The July light, sweet crude contract on NYMEX climbed 34¢ on May 23 to close at $51.47/bbl. The August contract rose 32¢ to settle at $51.72/bbl. The natural gas price for June fell 11¢ to a rounded $3.22/MMbtu. The Henry Hub cash gas price was $3.20/MMbtu, down 1¢. The Brent crude contract for July on London’s ICE gained 28¢ to $54.15/bbl. The August contract was up 30¢ to $54.41/bbl. The June gas oil contract held unchanged at $479/tonne. OPEC’s basket of crudes on May 23 settled at $51.34/bbl, down 20¢.