WikiLeaks' 'Revelations' About a 40% Overestimate of Oil Reserves Are Rejected by Mr. al-Husseini

摘要

In an interview with Arab News, the former Exploration Director of Saudi Aramco, Mr. Sadad al-Husseini, said he was "disappointed" by media interpretations and comments following the publication by the British newspaper The Guardian of American diplomatic notes revealed by WikiLeaks, which suggested that he had informed the American Consul General in Riyadh that Saudi Arabia's oil reserves had been overstated by 300 billion barrels, or 40%. These telegrams, which were sent between 2007 and 2009, indicate that Mr. al-Husseini told the American diplomat in November 2007 that Saudi Aramco's objective of stepping up its oil production capacity to 12.5 million barrels/day could not be achieved and that consequently the kingdom could not intervene on the oil market in the event of a price explosion. He reportedly said it would take 10 years to achieve that level due to a lack of infrastructure.