Hope was rekindled yesterday after crude oil price rose 40 cents to $33.12 per barrel, paring earlier losses after fresh comments from Russia about its openness to talk with the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) over output cuts.
Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said if there is consensus among OPEC and non-OPEC members to meet, “then we will meet”. This helped push the price of oil, which had been set for a third day of decline after data on Tuesday showed another big build in U.S. inventories, off the day’s lows. Brent for April delivery rose 40 cents to $33.12 a barrel, pulling away from a session low of $32.30. US crude futures rose 46 cents to $30.34, off a session low of $29.40. Oil is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy and the country is reeling from huge revenue loss following the crash of crude oil price. Late last month, oil price rose further above $30 a barrel on hopes that OPEC and non-OPEC producers may reach deal to tackle one of the biggest supply gluts in decades. OPEC has been making renewed calls for rival producers to cut supply alongside its members. Russia, seen as key to any deal at that time, refused to cooperate.
 

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