Monday June 29, 07:02 PM
France wants G8 to discuss oil prices -source
PARIS, June 29 (Reuters) - France wants the Group of Eight wealthy nations to discuss ways of regulating oil prices at its summit in Italy next month, a French government source said on Monday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in May he wanted oil producers and consumers to agree on price regulation in an effort to protect buyers from market volatility, while also ensuring investments in the energy sector.
The source told Reuters France was discussing Sarkozy's proposals with its G8 partners, hoping to reach agreement on the need for greater transparency and regulation as well as talks with producers on fixing a sustainable price range.
'Nobody wants prices to be too low because we need investment in the oil sector and also, if oil prices are too low, that would hinder the development of green technology,' the source said. 'But excessively high prices would hinder growth.'
The next G8 summit will take place from July 8-10 in l'Aquila (NYSE: ILA - news) , Italy.
Oil producers and consumers have both argued that too low an oil price harms investment in future production, while excessively high prices damage demand in the longer term.
The price of crude oil soared to almost $150 per barrel last year, only to fall to under $40 some months later due to the global economic crisis. On Monday, it was trading above $71 .
(Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry, editing by Anthony Barker) Keywords: FRANCE G8/OIL
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