UPDATE 1-Congo Republic oil output to reach 300,000 bpd in 2018 - oil minister

BRAZZAVILLE, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Congo Republic expects oil output to rise to some 300,000 barrels per day in 2018, up from around 250,000 bpd now, partly due to a new deep offshore field due to come online next year, the oil minister said on Thursday.