SAUDIS PLAN TO HIKE OUTPUT TO 12.5M BPD

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia intends to increase crude oil capacity to12.5 million barrels by 2009. Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al Nueimi said the kingdom would continue currentoil production of nine million barrels per day. Al Nueimi said Riyad has notyet decided to follow calls within OPEC for an oil production cut, whichwould be discussed at the cartel's meeting in Isfahan, Iran on March 16.