Sudan Considers OPEC Membership

06-14-2007

Sudan's oil minister said the African producer was still in discussions to join OPEC, though he gave no time frame for a decision. "The decision is ours - we're still working on it," said Awad Ahmed al-Jaz at the Asia Oil and Gas conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Sudan said last year it was considering joining the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pending approval from President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Jaz added the country was pumping about 500 000 barrels per day of crude.

Sudan said earlier this year it aims to double its output to one million bpd in two to three years. After a 2005 peace deal to end Africa's longest civil war in Sudan's south, Africa's largest country hopes to further develop its oil industry. Fellow African oil producer Angola joined OPEC in January this year.