The sixth round of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum was launched in the Qatari capital of Doha on Tuesday. Speaking at the session, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued a call for dialogue to ensure the security of global gas supplies.
The Qatari Emir’s call came amid a natural gas crisis in Europe derived from the escalating tensions between Russia and the West.
“We renew our call to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between member states on the one hand, and exporters and importers on the other, to ensure the security of natural gas supplies and the stability of global gas markets,” Sheikh Tamim said.
The Qatari ruler also emphasized the significance of flexibility and international cooperation in terms of converting challenges into opportunities, which enables “the continuation of growth and prosperity that everyone seeks to achieve.”
Sheikh Tamim defined that the forum paves the way for dialogue as “an opportunity to highlight the central role of natural gas in the desired energy transition, and in the search for a reliable source of energy that provides the right balance between achieving economic growth and dealing with environmental challenges.”
“The summit is held today amidst the continued challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for more than two years, leaving its imprint on various aspects of human life around the world,” he added.
In his remarks, the Qatari ruler also reiterated his country’s commitment to the transition to low-carbon energy by reducing the percentage of carbon in the gas production chain.
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) was founded in December 2008 as an intergovernmental organization. The Qatari capital of Doha hosts the forum’s headquarters. The organization currently has eleven members, including Qatar, Iran, and Russia.
The sixth summit of the GECF started last Sunday and will last three days. It occurred at a time when Europe faces a natural gas shortage should a conflict break out between Russia and Ukraine.
