Washintgon (Platts)--13Feb2009

Additional production cuts by OPEC would tighten world crude supplies,
causing prices to rise, Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the International
Energy Agency, said Friday.

Tanaka, speaking to reporters, said he could "see the market tightening"
if OPEC decides to implement additional output cuts at its March 15 meeting in
Vienna.

OPEC, at its meeting in Oran, Algeria, in mid-December, agreed to cut
production by 4.2 million b/d from estimated September output of 29.045
million b/d.

Further cuts "would have a negative effect on the global economy and
that's another point OPEC should think about," said Tanaka.

The IEA chief also said he was concerned about OPEC members cutting
future investment in supply related infrastructure.
--Gerald Karey, gerry_karey@platts.com