OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo dies at age 63

Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The secretary general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has died at the age of 63.

Mele Kyari, the head of Nigeria's National Petroleum Corporation, announced the news on his verified account.

He said that Dr Muhammad Sanusi Barkindo had died early Wednesday morning.

He passed away at 11pm on July 5, 2022. A great loss to his family, the NNPC, Nigeria and the global energy community. The funeral arrangements will be made soon.

Many members of the oil and gas world were surprised by Barkindo's sudden death.

He worked at Nigeria's National Petroleum Corporation, Duke Oil, Nigeria's foreign ministry and energy ministry.

Since taking the helm as secretary-general of the oil producer group, Barkindo oversaw tumultuous times for the oil producer group, which saw volatile markets and historic events such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Barkindo is credited with guiding unity among the group's members in an effort to stabilizing global oil markets despite the loss of two members.

Emma Graham is a correspondent for CNBC.