Qatar to leave OPEC in New Year

Qatar on Monday announced that it would leave the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from the start of the new year and concentrate on developing and raising its natural gas output to 110 million tonnes from 77 million tonnes a year.

At a news conference, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Petroleum (QP) Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi said Qatar informed its decision to OPEC earlier in the day.