Gas producing countries to hold ministerial meeting in Doha
Regional, Economics, 4/9/2007

The 6th ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries will be held in Doha, Qatar today, top advisor to oil minister on Saturday.

Hossein Kazempour Ardebili said that the ministers will study the five-year performance of the forum. The political aspects of the alliance and coordination of member states will be discussed.

"Constant economic growth and growing demand in the energy market boosted the share of natural gas in energy basket of the consuming countries, and the process will continue requiring the countries with gas resources to launch large investments to build infrastructures for production, exploration and transfer of gas to the consumers.

"Therefore, the member states need to expand cooperation in various sectors including exchange of views and information." Kazempour Ardebili said that the first meeting was held in Tehran on May 20, 2001 which focused on study of plans for development of gas supply in the world, creating balance between supply and demand, exploration, production and transfer, relevant costs as well as structures of regional and international gas markets.

The export of gas through pipeline or liquefied natural gas (LNG), the study of trade issues of export of gas, competitiveness of gas with other substitute fuels, frameworks of agreements on implementing gas projects, ways to improve the share of gas in combination of energy, Kyoto protocol and its impact on gas consumption were studied in Tehran meeting, he noted.

He pointed to the five-year activities of the forum including conducting a study on expansion of gas resources by Iran, assigning Algeria to prepare comprehensive gas model, holding round-table discussions on gas trade related to liberalization and export of gas to Europe, and organizing specialized sessions on gas cooperation among countries.

Touching on the goal of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum as providing supply security and market stability of gas in favor of both consumers and producers, he added that the forum is not against any group, and the member states believe that interaction and cooperation with producers will effectively help security and stability of gas market as well as promote investment in gas sector aimed at boosting the share of gas in macro energy market.

Expressing hope that major producers and exporters will play more active role in the meetings of the forum, he said that members try to materialize their plans away from hue and cry and political measures.

Participants in Doha meeting will explore ways to remove obstacles in the way of objectives of the forum, Kazempour Ardebili added.

Referring to Iran, Qatar, Algeria, Egypt and Venezuela as the major active participants in the sessions of the forum, he noted that it is expected that Russia will take part in Doha summit to expedite the follow-up of its goals.

Pointing to Iran's objectives to form a structure such as an organization, agency or assembly of gas exporter countries, he stressed that Iran tries to urge other members to bolster cooperation in this respect, but it is obvious that without consensus of participants and provision of the funds needed, formation of such an organization will not occur.

Algeria, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Russia and Turkmenistan were among the participants of the first session of the forum and countries including United Arab Emirates (UAE), Venezuela, Libya, Bolivia, Egypt, Guinea, Trinidad and Tobago have gradually joined it.

Egypt's Minister of Petroleum Sameh Fahmi urged today boosting cooperation between natural gas consuming and producing countries to create a balance between supply and demand in light of the growing demands on gas.

Providing necessary investments and financing and creating appropriate mechanisms will guarantee good prices of natural gas in the world market, Fahmi said during the sixth ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

Though the forum was founded six years ago, there is still a need to exchange viewpoints and expertise among the forum countries in the production and exploration of natural gas, Fahmi said.

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