OPEC杂项报告-OPEC_Statute_32页_601kb

OPEC Statute Summary

Core Content

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent intergovernmental organization established in 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The Statute outlines the structure, functions, and responsibilities of OPEC, including its organs, membership criteria, and financial provisions.

Main Objectives

• Coordination and unification of petroleum policies among member countries.
• Stabilization of international oil prices to avoid harmful fluctuations.
• Ensuring steady income for producing countries, efficient supply to consuming nations, and fair return on investments in the petroleum industry.
• Sovereign equality of all member countries is a guiding principle.

Membership

• Founder Members: Countries that participated in the First Conference in Baghdad in 1960 and signed the original agreement.
• Full Members: Founder Members and countries whose membership has been accepted by the Conference.
• Associate Members: Countries with substantial net oil exports and similar interests to members, admitted by a three-fourths majority vote, including the concurrent vote of all Founder Members.
• Observer status: Non-member countries may attend conferences as observers if invited.
• Withdrawal: A member may withdraw only after notifying the Conference and fulfilling all financial obligations.
• Readmission: Follows the same process as initial membership.

Organs of OPEC

OPEC has three main organs:

1. The Conference – The supreme authority.
2. The Board of Governors – Executive body.
3. The Secretariat – Administrative and operational body.

The Conference

• Holds two Ordinary Meetings annually and may convene Extraordinary Meetings upon request.
• Decisions require unanimous agreement of all Full Members, except procedural matters.
• Decisions become effective after 30 days unless notified otherwise.
• President and Alternate President are elected at the first Preliminary Meeting.
• Quorum for meetings is three-quarters of member countries.

The Board of Governors

• Composed of Governors nominated by member countries and confirmed by the Conference.

• Meets at least twice a year and may convene Extraordinary Meetings upon request.

• Has the authority to:

  • Direct the management of the Organization.
  • Submit reports and recommendations to the Conference.
  • Approve the budget.
  • Nominate the Auditor and Directors/Heads.
  • Convene Extraordinary Meetings of the Conference.
  • Prepare the agenda for the Conference.

• Chairman is appointed by the Conference on a rotational basis (alphabetical order), with membership date taking precedence if there is a conflict.

The Secretariat

• Led by the Secretary General, who is the legal representative of OPEC.
• Composed of the Secretary General and staff.
• Functions at the Headquarters of OPEC.
• The Secretary General is appointed for three years (renewable once) and must be a national of a member country.
• Responsible for organizing and administering the work of the Organization, preparing reports, and ensuring the execution of decisions.

Financial Provisions

• The budget is prepared annually and is equally apportioned among all members.
• Associate Members contribute a fixed annual subscription.
• Member countries bear the cost of sending delegations to meetings.
• The Organization covers travel expenses and remuneration of Governors attending Board meetings.

Additional Provisions

• Amendments to the Statute can be proposed by any member country and considered by the Board of Governors.
• Resolutions conflicting with the Statute are abrogated.
• The Statute was last revised on 1 May 1965.
• Several amendments have been made over the years, including changes to the structure of the Secretariat, budget allocation, and organizational functions.

Key Information

• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
• Official Language: English.
• Secretariat Contact:
  • Telephone: +43 1 211 12-0
  • Fax: +43 1 216 43 20
  • Email: prid@opec.org
  • Website: www.pec.org
• Secretariat Structure: Includes Research Division, Support Services Division, and other departments as needed.
• Staff: International employees who are not subject to government instructions and must act in the interests of the Organization.

Amendments Overview

• OPEC Statute has undergone multiple revisions since its inception in 1960.
• Major changes include the restructuring of the Secretariat, budget adjustments, and organizational reforms.
• The last major revision occurred in December 2011, which included changes to Articles 32.A, 33.A, and 33.B, and the deletion of Article 33.C.