The World Petroleum Congress wrapped up Thursday in the shadow of record crude prices, with concern growing about a third oil shock but with little consensus about what to do about it. After four days of meetings between the leading political and corporate energy bosses here, divisions between consumer and producer countries on what or who is to blame for 140-dollar oil appeared to sharpen.
Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter, expressed concern on Thursday about new records for benchmark crude of 146 dollars a barrel and again said it was committed to dialogue between consumers and producers. Those discussions show no sign of finding a solution to market tension, however, with both sides citing different reasons: consumers are clamouring for higher supplies while producers blame financial speculators and the falling dollar.