MOSCOW, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Top Russian officials are expected to hold talks Tuesday with OPEC ministers to discuss production quotas ahead of a meeting in Algeria with the oil cartel.
Russian Deputy Premier Igor Sechin is planning to meet with ministers from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries as well as Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naimi ahead of the Wednesday meeting.
Moscow has been moving in step with the oil cartel, suggesting it would follow OPEC decisions on oil production in an effort to prop up oil prices amid the world economic downturn.
Sechin will be joined by Sergei Shmatko, the Russian energy minister, and senior executives from oil firms LUKoil, Rosneft, TNK-BP and Gazpromneft, the Platts news service said.
OPEC moved in October to cut production quotas by 1.5 million barrels per day in an effort to control sliding crude oil prices, though prices gave up $100 from the July highs in December pricing.
Iran has led the way in calling for drastic cuts of nearly 2 million barrels per day, and OPEC ministers are expected to heed those calls Wednesday.
