The demise of H.E. Muhammad Sansui Barkindo, a veteran of the oil sector, an African hero, and a close friend, has shocked the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org).
At the age of 63, H.E. Barkindo passed away in his native Nigeria on July 5, 2022, at 23:00. The AEC wishes to express its sincere sympathies to H.E. Barkindo’s family and close friends during this trying time for their enormous loss.
The tragic loss of H.E. Barkindo cannot be adequately expressed in words, but the global energy community will continue to honor his legacy for many years to come. H.E. Barkindo has spent his entire four-decade career working to expand the oil and gas industries in Nigeria, Africa, and around the world.
In 1986, he joined the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a member of the delegation representing Nigeria.
His role in the organization then expanded as he assumed additional roles, including acting Secretary General of OPEC in 2006, representing Nigeria on the OPEC Board of Governors in 2009 and 2010, and finally appointment as Secretary General in 2016, which was followed by a three-year extension in 2019.
Prior to his roles in OPEC, H.E. Barkindo was a prominent figure in the Nigerian energy sector, having worked as an advisor to H.E. Dr. Rilwanu Lukman KBE, a former minister of petroleum resources and secretary general of OPEC, as well as the group managing director and CEO of the NNPC and the deputy managing director of Nigerian liquefied natural gas.
Since 1991, H.E. Barkindo has served as the head of Nigeria’s technical delegation to the UN climate change negotiations. He previously chaired the Group of 77 and China at the UNFCCC, and he was chosen to serve three terms as the Conference of the Parties’ vice president for COP13, COP14, and COP15.
The real accomplishments of H.E. Barkindo, though, occurred during his time as OPEC’s Secretary General. H.E. Barkindo, who served as OPEC’s longest-serving representative, managed to go through and presided over some of the most difficult times in the group’s history.
A few months after being named the organization’s leader, H.E. Barkindo launched the OPEC+ coalition, ushering in a new, unprecedented era for the group and hitherto unthinkable alliances with non-member nations like Russia.
After being appointed, H.E. Barkindo led the group to greater heights in less than a year, successfully bringing together all major energy producers.
Following his reappointment, H.E. Barkindo guided the organization through the COVID-19 epidemic, one of the largest catastrophes the world has ever seen.
During his second term as Secretary General, the leader had to manage production cuts, changes in the price of oil on a global scale, and never-before-seen geopolitical conflicts that had a big impact on the world’s oil producers. H.E. Barkindo played a crucial role in the alliance’s efforts to defuse tensions and improve relations while in his post.
“H.E. Barkindo served as our mentor, friend, and leader. The news of his passing shocks the AEC to its core. He will always be regarded as a national hero in Africa, a key player in the struggle to secure the continent’s right to the exploration and production of its oil and gas.
H.E. Barkindo had a life of fidelity, companionship, and tenacity. He will be remembered as the person who brought together producers, contributed to the formation of OPEC+, worked to end energy poverty, and improved Africa’s standing as a major producer of energy.
His absence would be felt deeply, according to NJ Ayuk, executive chairman of the AEC.
The AEC implores all energy stakeholders to keep in mind what our OPEC Secretary General battled for: the advancement of Africa and the world for the benefit of future generations. As we mourn the passing of H.E. Barkindo.