OPEC chief to resign at year end

OPEC chief to resign at year end

JAKARTA: OPEC head Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he would tender his resignation from the oil cartel by the end of this year to concentrate on his job as Indonesia's energy minister.

"OPEC will have to select a new secretary general at its meeting in Cairo on Dec. 10," Yusgiantoro told reporters.

He said he would have continued on in his post if he had not been appointed energy minister in the new administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who took office in October.

Yusgiantoro was appointed OPEC secretary general in December last year after the oil cartel failed to agree on candidates.

Yusgiantoro had previously held the post during the administration of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri.-- AFP