Holding a ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran

According to Energy Press, Seyyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi stated that the 26th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) will be held in Tehran from 6 to 8 December and that the periodic chairmanship of this meeting is held by Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad. He stated that 16 of the world’s most important gas producers and exporters will participate in this meeting.
He pointed out that the Gas Exporting Countries Forum has 12 main members and eight observer members, adding: In addition to the main and observer members, several countries always participate as guests in various meetings.
The Deputy Minister of Oil for International Affairs and Trade emphasized: So far, 10 main member countries have announced their readiness to attend the 26th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, so considering the maximum number of countries present, we have the necessary quorum to hold the ministerial meeting on Sunday (8 December).
Mousavi pointed out that the main members of the forum include Iran, Russia, Qatar, Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela, and said: Angola, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Peru and Senegal also constitute observer members of this forum and have regularly participated in the meetings.
Stating that 70 percent of gas reserves, 40 percent of production, 47 percent of gas exports through pipelines and 51 percent of LNG exports are at the disposal of the members of this forum, he continued: Therefore, holding this meeting is very important and the world’s energy press and media always look forward to such meetings and the approvals of the forum.
The Deputy Minister of Oil for International Affairs and Trade emphasized that the initial idea of ​​forming the Gas Exporting Countries Forum was raised by Iran in the late 1970s, adding: The first ministerial meeting of the member countries was held in Tehran in 2000, and the forum began its official activities in 2010. The secretariat of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum is also located in Qatar based on the decision of the members.
Mousavi stated that the ministerial meeting, the 26th session of which will be held in Tehran on December 8, is the most important governance and policy-making pillar of this forum, and stated: The most important agenda of the ministerial meetings is the approval of the program and budget, the election of the Secretary General, the election of the chairman and vice chairman of the ministerial meeting, and the review of membership fees and the election of the next chairmen will be discussed at the ministerial meeting.
He pointed out that seven summits at the head level, 25 ministerial summits, 49 executive board level and 55 technical and economic council meetings of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum have been held so far, and said: A large number of specialized and expert meetings have also been held in the capitals of the member countries.
The Deputy Minister of Oil for International Affairs and Trade continued: Since the establishment of this forum, Iran has hosted the first summit in 2005, the 15th summit in 2013, and the 17th ministerial summit in 2015.
Explaining the programs of the 26th GECF meeting
Mousavi referred to the programs set for the 26th ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran and added: An extraordinary executive board meeting will be held on Friday (December 6). On Saturday, in addition to the participants of this forum visiting the capabilities of the Iranian oil industry at the Petroleum Industry Research Institute, bilateral meetings between ministers and officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran are planned.
He added that the Global Outlook Report, Short-Term Gas Market Report, and Statistical Yearbook of the forum will also be presented to members and journalists on Saturday evening. He continued: On Sunday, December 18, a ministerial meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Mohsen Paknejad, Minister of Oil of the Islamic Republic of Iran, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM. The meeting will be held in two sessions, the first session with the presence of journalists and including the opening ceremony, speeches by the Chairman and Secretary General of the forum and participating ministers, and in the second session, we will have a closed-door meeting where ministers will approve issues in the form of resolutions.
The Deputy Minister of Oil for International Affairs and Trade stated: After the meeting, a press conference will be held with the presence of Mohsen Paknejad, Minister of Oil of Iran as Chairman of the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries, and Mohammad Hamel, Secretary General of the Forum.
Mousavi stated that out of the 12 main members, including Iran as the host, 6 countries will participate at the ministerial level and the rest at the level of deputies and high-ranking officials of the oil and gas ministries in the 26th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, and said: “Of the eight observer countries, five countries, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iraq, Mauritania, Senegal and Mozambique, will participate in this session.” He emphasized that Iran, Qatar, Nigeria, Libya, Algeria and Russia, which hold about 50 percent of the world’s gas reserves, will participate in this meeting at the ministerial level, adding: “The level of participation may increase in the coming days.”