LNGpedia

FACTBOX-Gas Exporting Countries Forum

Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:56pm IST

June 25 (Reuters) - The Gas Exporting Countries Forum meets in Doha on June 30. Following are facts about the GECF:

- The Gas Exporting Countries Forum is a loose group of 11 of the world’s gas powers. Between them, members hold about three quarters of all the world’s gas reserves.

- The group does not coordinate output or make policy decisions on supply. Members exchange information on gas market fundamentals, worldwide gas development projects, gas exploration, production and transportation technologies and the associated costs.

- The three largest reserve holders are Russia, Iran and Qatar and form the backbone of the group. Russia’s state-owned gas monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) is the world’s largest gas exporter. Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is gas chilled to liquid for export on ships. Iran is a net gas importer, but has ambitious plans to become an exporter.

- The forum agreed a charter in Moscow in December aimed at formalising the organisation of what until then had been a talking shop for gas exporters. It has yet to make the charter public.

- Eleven countries signed the Moscow statute. They were Algeria, Bolivia, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. Those 11 are listed as members on the GECF website. Before Moscow, the GECF also listed Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates as members. The GECF lists two countries as observers on its website. They are Kazakhstan and Norway.

Iran’s representative to the GECF has said more countries are interested in joining the group.

- Gas exporters set up the GECF in 2001 to boost coordination and cooperation. The meeting in Doha will mark the eighth time ministers have gathered.

- The GECF was expected to choose a secretary general in Doha. The GECF executive board will meet on June 29 to vet the candidates. The group’s headquarters is in Qatar. (Compiled by Simon Webb; editing by James Jukwey)