The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) is meeting in Doha, Qatar, to discuss the possibility of forming a body that would represent gas producers and exporters in the global market, with some leaders calling for a cartel that would function as the gas equivalent of OPEC.
Russia [1], the world's largest gas seller, will reportedly lead the study group on the proposal. The idea is also said to have the support of Iran [2], Kazakhstan [3], Turkmenistan [4] and Bolivia [5].
Said Bolivian energy minister Carlos Villegas: "At the moment, gas markets are regional. But the trend is towards a global market. So we have to be prepared to face this global market. I think the process of reflection of the forum has allowed us to identify the most important areas of common ground: prices, costs, production and exports."
Western gas exporters Canada, Norway and the Netherlands are said to be against the proposal. The US, not a GECF member, has already voiced oppsition. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman told Reuters: "When you see all the suppliers gathering together in one place at the same time, or many of the suppliers, one has to worry about it." (Energy Business Review [6], Kommersant [7], April 10)
See our last post on the struggle for control of the world's hydrocarbons [8].
