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Oil majors slash 2020 spending 20% after prices slump

The world’s biggest oil and gas companies are slashing spending this year following a collapse in oil prices driven by a slump in demand because of coronavirus and a price war between the top exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Cuts already announced by seven major oil companies including Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell come to a combined $25 billion, or a drop of 20% from their initial spending plans of $127 billion.

Norway’s Equinor said on Wednesday it would cut capital expenditure, or capex, by some $2 billion while Chevron said on Tuesday it would slash its capex this year by $4 billion.

Others such as U.S. giant Exxon Mobil Corp and Britain’s BP have said they will cut capital expenditure but haven’t given specific figures as yet.

Brazilian oil company Petrobras said it was dialing back short-term production, delaying a dividend payment and trimming its 2020 investment plan, among other measures aimed at reducing costs in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

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