'We have always said that our objective is US$70 to US$80 a barrel,' Mr Khelil, who is also Algeria's energy minister, told an energy industry seminar in Algiers.

'If the barrel price does not reach this level, there will probably be another (production) cutback,' he said, adding however that there must be consensus among the 12 Opec nations, 'and everyone has their own interests'. -- AFP