+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

Oil is so cheap even pirates don't want it anymore

Feb 17, 2016, 18:30 IST

REUTERS/Tim Chong

Crude oil is no longer a major economic boon for many of the world's producers.

Advertisement

And now, even pirates don't want it.

A Bloomberg report Monday noted that attacks on vessels shipping oil in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa have dropped by a third in the past year while oil prices crashed.

The gulf includes the Atlantic waters just south of Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer and OPEC member.

This is a key trading route for oil supplies from the region to Europe and North America.

Advertisement

The region has been plagued by oil thefts and illegal shipments which cost Nigeria in the hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil per day.

But with little help from the authorities, the oil crash has helped reduce this problem for now, though Bloomberg notes that the attacks could pick up again if oil prices rise.

In early trade Wednesday after news that Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar, and Venezuela agreed to freeze production at current levels - though Iran said it would not get on board with this move - prices were little changed.

Read the full report at Bloomberg here »

(h/t @NickatFP)

Advertisement

NOW WATCH: The surprising things that cost more than gas right now

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
Next Article