Further 'Gas OPEC' Discussions Held

Iran, Qatar and Russia will hold the second round of their gas cooperation talks in Doha on November 12.

High ranking officials from the three countries will exchange views over the practical approaches for the expansion of cooperation in the gas sector, developing gas fields, and laying the foundations for meeting the world’s energy demands, PIN reported.

Russia, Iran and Qatar agreed to form a “gas troika” for joint exploration and production in the first round of their talks in Tehran in October.

The three countries also decided to create a Supreme Technical Committee comprised of specialists and experts for discussing the implementation of certain joint projects spanning the entire production chain from geological exploration to transportation and joint marketing of gas.

National Iranian Gas Export Company’s Managing Director Seyyed Reza Kasaeizadeh was chosen as the Committee’s secretary.

In the first round of the tripartite talks, Gazprom’s delegation was led by the Company’s Management Committee Chairman Alexei Miller, Iran’s delegation was led by Iranian Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari and Qatar’s delegation was led by Qatari Deputy Prime Minister, Energy and Industry Minister Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah.

Russia holds 25.2 percent of the world’s proven natural gas reserves, according to BP’s Annual Statistical Review of World Energy. Iran has 15.7 percent and Qatar 14.4 percent.

Iran has made an official proposal to the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GEFC) to be the permanent host of its secretariat

Author: Jo Amey