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Indonesia may leave OPEC

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, smiles during a breakfest before receiving a honorary docotorate of Laws degree at Webster University in Webster Groves, MO on September 12, 2005. Yudhoyono is a graduate of the University's Kansas City campus. (UPI Photo/Bill Greenblatt)
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, smiles during a breakfest before receiving a honorary docotorate of Laws degree at Webster University in Webster Groves, MO on September 12, 2005. Yudhoyono is a graduate of the University's Kansas City campus. (UPI Photo/Bill Greenblatt) | License Photo

JAKARTA, May 6 (UPI) -- Indonesia may opt out of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries as the country has become a net oil importer, its president said Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening of the National Development Planning Congress in Jakarta, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said such a plan was being considered by his government, Antara news agency reported.

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"At the last Cabinet session, we considered whether we would stay in OPEC or quit while increasing domestic oil production," he said, adding the country's crude oil production is less than 1 million barrels a day from aging wells.

He said he, however, hoped the country can increase output in the next two to three years, which would allow the country to rejoin the cartel.

Separately, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Boediono said the plan to quit OPEC was being evaluated by the government, Antara said.

Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman M. Hidayat said his group would support the plan to quit OPEC.

Xinhua reported that while Indonesia's oil output under OPEC quota of 1.3 million barrels a day, the country hasn't met the quota for about five years.

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OPEC members include Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

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