RI to ask OPEC not to cut output: Purnomo

Indonesia will ask the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) not to cut crude oil output during the group's meeting next month, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Tuesday.

"Most important for Indonesia is that OPEC doesn't cut output," Purnomo told reporters including report from Dow Jones Newswires, when asked to talk about the country's stance on OPEC's output policy.

He said OPEC shouldn't slash production as oil prices may rise in the coming months due to a colder-than-expected winter.

OPEC's de-facto leader Saudi Arabia has said the group should maintain its current level of production, while some hawkish members such as Venezuela want a cut in output.

OPEC will meet in Kuwait Dec. 12.(*)