By Eddy Ochigbo
The Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, has paid glowing tribute to the recently retired Bijan Namdar Zanganeh of Iran for his historic contributions to OPEC during his long and illustrious career as the head of delegation of Iran to OPEC, for a period spanning more than three decades.
In a widely televised tribute to Zanganeh, who served at different times as Iran’s Energy Minister and Petroleum Minister, Barkindo poured encomiums, describing him as a prime example of decency and the embodiment of integrity, not only to Iran, but also to OPEC throughout his career.
“At this historic moment, I would like to take a few minutes of your time to reflect, with deep appreciation and a touch of nostalgia, on the historic contributions of His Excellency, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, of Islamic Republic of Iran to OPEC during his long and illustrious career. Indeed, we have a depth of gratitude to pay (for) his many years of dedicated service of excellence to this organisation as the head of delegation of Iran to OPEC during his tenure as Minister of Energy from 1988 to 1997, and then as Minister of Petroleum from 1997 to 2005, and from 2013 to present, he has served his country and this organisation with distinction, and has displayed both strong leadership, diplomatic expertise and truly dignified character. He is a prime example of decency and the embodiment of integrity.
“His Excellency, Zanganeh, as the longest serving head of delegation to OPEC, you are held in high esteem amongst your industry peers and here at the OPEC Secretariat. Your Excellency’s historic wealth of knowledge and industry expertise have greatly impacted the many ministerial meetings, OPEC seminars and many ministerial events in which you have participated as the doyen of both the OPEC conference and the non-OPEC ministerial meetings. Your Excellency’s dignified leadership and towering presence provided significance stabilising influence, especially in the most challenging of times over the past decades.
“I assure you, our successes would not have been what they are with the input of your dedication, sense of team work and diplomatic astuteness. We all drank from the reservoir of knowledge and fountain of wisdom. More recently, OPEC has benefited from your leadership and contributions that have transformed the OPEC and non-OPEC declaration from a noble vision to a highly effective framework for global energy cooperation. This landmark cooperation continues to have a profound impact on the global oil industry, helping it successfully navigate and overcome major global challenges such as the global COVID-19 pandemic,” Barkindo declared, while reflecting on the gigantic contributions of Zanganeh to both OPEC and his home country Iran.
On the forthcoming 60th of the organisation, slated for Baghdad, Iran, Barkindo expressed appreciation to Zanganeh as a founding member of OPEC, without whom he said such a landmark would have been difficult.
“Now, Your Excellency, as we prepare to commemorate the 60th anniversary of OPEC in September of 2021 in Baghdad, Iraq, I am especially appreciative of Iran’s historic contributions as a founding member of OPEC and its steadfast commitment to the founding principles of this organisation and Your Excellency’s able guidance, the Iranian delegation has played a leading role in OPEC affairs over the years, and this often being recognised for creativity in seeking compromise and finding viable solutions among its fellow member countries,” Barkindo summed up.