OPEC may consider Congo's application for membership: report

OPEC may consider adding the Republic of Congo as a new member during its Vienna meeting on Friday, Platts reported, citing sources.

A vote is likely to be on the OPEC meeting agenda, sources said.

The Congo bid is "looking good, but since OPEC has a lot of difficult issues to discuss, it's not quite on the priority list for now," said a Congo representative who is in Vienna for discussions with OPEC.

Congo, which produces about 250,000-300,000 barrels per day, would become OPEC's 15th country, if its application is approved.

In January, the country's President Denis Sassou Nguesso said he desired "imminent" membership in OPEC, which would bring Congo "to the rank of world leaders, who take decisions in international negotiations."