LUKOIL says Russia could trim output, join OPEC

MOSCOW, Oct 29 (Reuters) - A vice-president of Russian oil major LUKOIL (LKOH.MM) said on Wednesday the Russian oil industry's future hinges on close cooperation with OPEC and said the country could cut production to help OPEC prop up prices.

The comment by Leonid Fedun at a conference in Moscow came as a big surprise after his boss, the head of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov, said earlier this month Russia should not join OPEC as it would damage its oil industry.

"We are seeing that Russia and OPEC are beginning to cooperate. I believe the future of the Russian industry and price stability hinges on close cooperation with OPEC," he said.

He added that Russia could afford to cut production and exports by 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) to help OPEC, and said executives from private Russian oil companies could attend OPEC's next December meeting in Algeria.

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, writing by Amie Ferris-Rotman, Editing by Dmitry Zhdannikov)