DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar's oil minister says 12 countries have agreed so far to participate in a meeting it's hosting next month to discuss a freeze in oil output levels.

Qatar announced earlier this month it would be the venue for between OPEC and non-OPEC producers on April 17 to discuss the production cap. The talks are aimed at bolstering oil prices that have fallen from over $100 a barrel in 2014 to less than $40 a barrel at present.

Minister of Energy and Industry Mohammed Bin Saleh al-Sada said on Thursday that Qatar is still expecting official confirmation from producers that have verbally expressed plans to attend the meeting.

Those confirmed so far are Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Nigeria, Algeria, Indonesia, Ecuador, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.