Qatar to withdraw OPEC membership from Jan 2019: Energy Min.

Qatar is to leave OPEC next month, the Gulf state's new energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi, announced on Monday.

"Qatar has decided to withdraw its membership from OPEC effective January 2019," Kaabi said at a Doha press conference.

He added that OPEC was told of the decision on Monday ahead of the announcement.

(With inputs from agencies.)