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Meet growing demand.
The role of gas as a reliable source of energy was once again reiterated on the occasion of the 27th ministerial meeting of the member countries of the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries (GECF Gas Exporting Countries Forum), during which ministers underlined the need to strengthen gas investments in order to meet the growing demand for this clean energy source.
While warning against “misleading” calls to stop funding gas development projects, ministers stressed “the importance of timely investment throughout the gas value chain, to ensure sufficient supplies to meet growing demand”. After welcoming “the ability of member countries to ensure stable supplies despite market fluctuations”, the participants warned against these calls aimed at ceasing investments in natural gas, an approach which will have a negative impact on energy security, it was specified.
Forum ministers also expressed their “deep concern about the possibility of imposing unilateral restrictive measures or regulations with extraterritorial scope”, citing in particular the European Methane Emissions Regulation (EU MER), the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CSDDD) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM).
These regulations “impose obligations that often go against the principles and requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement and the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO)”, announcing to this effect the creation of a temporary working group of the Forum responsible for these issues, according to the final press release. The participants also called for mobilizing the financial resources necessary for the support and development of gas infrastructure, in coordination with international financial institutions, multilateral development banks and the private sector, in order to facilitate the financing of gas projects.
A new SG for the Forum
The importance of this orientation is explained by the upward trend observed in the use of natural gas on a global scale.
According to the Global Gas Outlook Forum report, demand for this clean resource is expected to increase by almost 32% by 2050, with its share of the global energy mix increasing from 23% to 26%.
The final communiqué also highlighted “the growing importance of digital technologies in strengthening operational efficiency, transparency and security throughout the natural gas value chain”, encouraging “investments in data analytics, artificial intelligence tools and smart infrastructure for better resource management”.
Welcoming the efforts of the Forum’s general secretariat, the final communiqué also highlighted “the progress made by the Gas Research Institute (GRI) under the Forum”, based in Algiers.
Participants expressed their “deep gratitude” to Algerian Mohamed Hamel, outgoing Secretary General, for “his exemplary leadership and significant contributions to achieving the Forum’s objectives”, while congratulating Philip Mshelbila, of Nigeria, on his appointment as the Forum’s new SG.
Nigeria will hold the rotating presidency of the Forum in 2026, the year in which the 8e GECF Heads of State and Government Summit in Moscow.