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

Cuts already announced by eight major oil companies, including Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell, come to a combined US$28 billion, or a drop of 20 percent from their initial spending plans of US$142 billion.

BP cut its 2020 spending plan by 25 percent and will reduce output from its US shale oil and gas business, it said on Wednesday.

Exxon Mobil Corp said it would cut capital expenditure but has not given specific figures as yet.

Brazilian oil company Petrobras said it was dialling 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.

Oil prices have slumped 65 percent since January to around US$25 a barrel.

Investors say if the current crisis is prolonged, the spending cuts announced by major oil companies may not be enough to let them maintain dividends without adding to their already elevated levels of debt.

The combined debt of Chevron, Total, BP, Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell stood at US$231 billion at the end of in 2019, just shy of the US$235 billion hit in 2016 when oil prices also tumbled below US$30 a barrel.

- Reuters

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