Generic Hero BannerGeneric Hero Banner
Últimas notícias do mercado

US oil executives to testify on gasoline prices

  • Mercados: Crude oil, Natural gas, Oil products
  • 29/03/22

Top executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP and Shell will appear before the US House of Representatives in a hearing next week meant to address growing frustration from drivers paying record-high prices for gasoline and diesel in the US.

ExxonMobil chief executive Darren Woods, Chevron chief executive Michael Wirth, BP America president David Lawler and Shell USA president Gretchen Watkins have agreed to testify at the 6 April hearing, the House Energy and Commerce Committee said. Devon Energy chief executive Richard Muncrief and Pioneer Natural Resources chief executive Scott Sheffield also plan to testify.

The committee's Democratic majority wants to use the hearing to argue that oil industry business practices are partially to blame for a spike in gasoline prices, which hit a record weekly high of $4.31/USG in the US earlier this month. Republicans are likely to use the hearing to argue high prices were caused by President Joe Biden's energy policies, such as limiting federal oil and gas leasing and canceling the proposed 830,000 b/d Keystone XL pipeline.

US retail gasoline prices have jumped about $1/USG over the last two months, primarily as the market reacted to Russia's decision to send troops into Ukraine and corresponding sanctions related to the conflict. Democrats and Republicans for weeks have sought to channel voter frustration over those price spike onto the oil sector or to policies at the White House.

The upcoming hearing marks the second time in six months that top US oil executives will offer testimony before Congress, although the executives have the option of appearing virtually. Woods, Wirth, Lawler and Watkins all appeared virtually in a 28 October hearing before the House Oversight Committee to discuss their past work on climate change policy.


Compartilhar
Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more