Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Munich, Bavaria. OPEC was founded by five petroleum-exporting nations at a conference held in September. The formation of OPEC represented a collective act of sovereignty, and marked a turning point toward state control over natural resources, at a time when the international oil market was largely dominated by a group of multinational companies known as the "Seven Sisters". In the 1960s, OPEC ensured that oil companies could not unilaterally cut prices. In the 1970s, supply restrictions led to a dramatic rise in oil prices and OPEC revenue and wealth, with lasting and far-reaching effects for the global economy.
OPEC Members[]
- Algeria
- Indonesia
- Kurdistan
- Kuwait
- Libya
- Louisiana
- Nigeria
- Persia
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Tawantinsuyu
- United Arab Emirates
- Venezuela
Former Members[]
- Alyeska
- Angola
- Congo
Applicants for Membership[]
- Norway
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics