OPEC Appoints Barkindo as New Secretary-General

Former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mohammed Barkindo has been appointed secretary-general of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC).

Barkindo, a, will replace Libyan Abdalla El-Badri who has held the position since 2007.

Badri was due to step down in 2012 but has stayed in place because OPEC has been unable to agree on a successor.

Other candidates were Ali Rodriguez Araque, previously secretary general in 2001-2002, and Mahendra Siregar of Indonesia.

"We've finally selected the secretary general, which is good. He's highly respected and qualified," said Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khaled al-Falih.