OPEC may increase crude oil output to plug any supply deficit caused by a possible war against Iraq, Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil said today.
"OPEC had said several times that the organisation is ready to satisfy any need on the market and deal with any repercussion on the market," said Khelil.
He was replying to a reporter's question on whether the cartel plans to increase output in the case of a US offensive against Iraq.
US President George W. Bush has ratcheted up pressure on Baghdad to obey UN resolutions on weapons of mass destruction.
Khelil was speaking at a news conference ahead of an OPEC meeting on Thursday in Japan. He did not elaborate about the cartel gathering, focusing instead on local energy policy.
He said Algeria will host an Energy Week conference grouping oil and gas managers, officials, experts from 18 countries on December 14th-18th.