About OPEC

• The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a group consisting of 13 of the world’s major oil-exporting nations.
• Countries that belong to OPEC include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela (the five founders), plus the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
• OPEC was founded in 1960 to coordinate the petroleum policies of its members and to provide member states with technical and economic aid. 
• OPEC is used to work as a cartel and fix prices in a favourable band. It could bring down prices by increasing oil production and raise prices by cutting production.

OPEC Plus

• The 2014 oil crisis, which was accentuated by oversupply of crude, brought down prices below $30 a barrel. Since then, OPEC has been working with non-OPEC countries like Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Sudan and South Sudan to fix the global prices and supply.
• Known as the “OPEC Plus” arrangement, this alliance kept production lower and pumped up the prices.
• Together, these nations produce about 40% of the entire world’s crude oil.

Why in News?

• OPEC is actively considering expanding its membership by engaging in consultations with Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Mexico.

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=OPEC-Explores-Potential-Membership-Expansion-through-Consultations-with-Azerbaijan%2c-Malaysia%2c-Brunei%2c-and-Mexico&id=463928