Russia is confident the role of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, or GECF, an OPEC-style organization for gas exporters, will increase in the future, the country's Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said Tuesday.
"The current situation in the world gas market is no participant can go their own way," Shmatko told delegates at a GECF meeting in Doha.
Shmatko said productive cooperation between the 13 GECF members, which include the world's top three gas reserve holders Russia, Iran and Qatar, will benefit the markets.
"We will solve the issues and the role of our organization will only increase in ensuring policies in gas markets," he added.
Gas producers such as Russia, Iran, Qatar and Venezuela have been talking for some time about a 'gas OPEC', mirroring the 13-member Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which meet more than 40% of the world's crude oil demand.
Consumers in Europe and the U.S. are opposing producing nations' moves to create a gas cartel due to concerns over pricing fixing and security of supplies.
Qatar's Energy Minister Abdulla bin Hamad Al Attiyah said Tuesday the gas "industry needs greater mutual support to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies to the world and the utilization of our natural resources more wisely and prudently. In this context, the role of the forum is essential."
Iran is so far the only country to have proposed a candidate for the role to head the GECF, having submitted the CV of National Iranian Oil Co. executive Hojatollah Ghanimifard.
GECF members will today decide on whether the secretary general post will go to Iran or whether to extend the application deadline for other candidate nominations.
Russia also has a candidate for the position, Shmatko said, declining to provide further details.
Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Norway, Venezuela, the United Arab Emirates and Trinidad and Tobago are also attending the meeting in Doha, Qatar's capital.