OPEC welcomes Indonesia?s re-entry plan

All members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) welcome Indonesia?s intention to resume its membership, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a statement on Friday.

The support to the intention was expressed by Saudi Arabia?s Petroleum Minister Ali Al-Naimi during his bilateral meeting with Indonesian counterpart Sudirman Said.

Indonesia, a founder of OPEC, suspended its membership in 2009 as the firm had turned into a net oil importer due to the decline in its oil production.

Indonesia officially expressed intention to resume membership during the recent OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria. OPEC?s Secretary General Abdalla Salem el-Badri said the oil cartel will hold a special meeting on Friday, June 5, 2015 (today) to discuss the intention, Sudirman said.

?Once Indonesia has become an active member again, it will open opportunities to cooperate with OPEC members to rebuild our energy independence,? Sudirman said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon