CAIRO, Jan 3 (Reuters) – OPEC’s secretary general-elect said on Monday that global oil demand should return to its pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022, Al Arabiya news channel reported. Haitham al-Ghais, a former Kuwaiti governor to OPEC, also told the Saudi-owned TV channel that the OPEC+ alliance – which gathers OPEC and other crude producers – was important for the stability and balance of oil markets. OPEC on Monday agreed to appoint al-Ghais as its new secretary general, to succeed Nigeria’s Mohammad Barkindo. He will take over the role on Aug. 1.