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Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Russia, Iran and Qatar Move Toward Forming Gas Cartel
Russia, Iran and Qatar made the first serious moves Tuesday toward forming an OPEC-style cartel on natural gas, raising concerns that Moscow could boost its influence over energy markets spanning from Europe to South Asia.
Russia, Iran and Qatar Move Toward Forming Gas Cartel
The Associated Press 22 October 2008
Russia, Iran and Qatar made the first serious moves Tuesday toward forming an OPEC-style cartel on natural gas, raising concerns that Moscow could boost its influence over energy markets spanning from Europe to South Asia.
The Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom said it had agreed with Iran and Qatar to form a “big gas troika” and that it should become a permanent body holding regular meetings.
But unlike Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari of Iran, Gazprom’s chief executive, Alexei Miller, did not refer to the establishment of a “gas OPEC” after talks in Tehran with Nozari and Energy Minister Abdullah al-Attiyah of Qatar.
“There is a demand to form this gas OPEC and there is a consensus to set up gas OPEC,” Nozari told a joint news conference after talks with Miller and Attiyah.
Europe and the United States have warned against such a gas export body, saying it could pose a danger to global energy security and create room for price manipulation.
Russia, Iran and Qatar are ranked the first-, second- and third-biggest holders of natural gas reserves in the world and together boast more than half of the global total.
“We have agreed to hold regular - three or four times per year - meetings of the ‘big gas troika’ to discuss key issues of gas market developments,” Miller said in a statement issued in Moscow.
“We have a common vision of the goals of the forum and the need to transform it into a permanent organization as quickly as possible to serve the goals of stable and reliable energy supplies in the world,” the statement said.
Major gas exporters have met informally for several years at the annual Gas Exporting Countries Forum, a grouping including also Venezuela, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia and Libya.
Iran wants to turn it into a more formal body akin to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the 13-member cartel which makes output decisions that can sway the oil price.
“God willing, in the next meeting of the gas exporting countries, they will affirm the establishment of the organization,” Attiyah said.
Gazprom has previously played down the idea of a “gas OPEC,” saying it was not feasible.
Some analysts say any gas OPEC could be expected to share insights on upstream contract terms with investors rather than act on restricting gas supply as the oil OPEC does.
“Surely this gathering of gas exporting countries is to give assurances over gas supply to the world,” Miller, whose country is the world’s largest gas exporter, told the news conference.
Iran is still a relatively small exporter, with U.S. sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear activities slowing development of its gas sector. Major European companies have shelved or scrapped multi-billion-dollar projects there.
Russia has been a reluctant backer of UN sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program, which Tehran says is to generate electricity but which the West fears could lead to weapons manufacturing.
Nozari hailed Tuesday’s talks as a “turning point” in expanding cooperation between Iran, Qatar and Russia and said they had agreed to set up a committee of senior officials.
Miller said the new body would “review projects and implement joint projects. This will range from exploration, refining and selling gas.”
He added the committee of technical specialists would meet in Doha, Qatar’s capital, next week.
1 comment:
Russia, Iran and Qatar Move Toward Forming Gas Cartel
The Associated Press
22 October 2008
Russia, Iran and Qatar made the first serious moves Tuesday toward forming an OPEC-style cartel on natural gas, raising concerns that Moscow could boost its influence over energy markets spanning from Europe to South Asia.
The Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom said it had agreed with Iran and Qatar to form a “big gas troika” and that it should become a permanent body holding regular meetings.
But unlike Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari of Iran, Gazprom’s chief executive, Alexei Miller, did not refer to the establishment of a “gas OPEC” after talks in Tehran with Nozari and Energy Minister Abdullah al-Attiyah of Qatar.
“There is a demand to form this gas OPEC and there is a consensus to set up gas OPEC,” Nozari told a joint news conference after talks with Miller and Attiyah.
Europe and the United States have warned against such a gas export body, saying it could pose a danger to global energy security and create room for price manipulation.
Russia, Iran and Qatar are ranked the first-, second- and third-biggest holders of natural gas reserves in the world and together boast more than half of the global total.
“We have agreed to hold regular - three or four times per year - meetings of the ‘big gas troika’ to discuss key issues of gas market developments,” Miller said in a statement issued in Moscow.
“We have a common vision of the goals of the forum and the need to transform it into a permanent organization as quickly as possible to serve the goals of stable and reliable energy supplies in the world,” the statement said.
Major gas exporters have met informally for several years at the annual Gas Exporting Countries Forum, a grouping including also Venezuela, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia and Libya.
Iran wants to turn it into a more formal body akin to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the 13-member cartel which makes output decisions that can sway the oil price.
“God willing, in the next meeting of the gas exporting countries, they will affirm the establishment of the organization,” Attiyah said.
Gazprom has previously played down the idea of a “gas OPEC,” saying it was not feasible.
Some analysts say any gas OPEC could be expected to share insights on upstream contract terms with investors rather than act on restricting gas supply as the oil OPEC does.
“Surely this gathering of gas exporting countries is to give assurances over gas supply to the world,” Miller, whose country is the world’s largest gas exporter, told the news conference.
Iran is still a relatively small exporter, with U.S. sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear activities slowing development of its gas sector. Major European companies have shelved or scrapped multi-billion-dollar projects there.
Russia has been a reluctant backer of UN sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program, which Tehran says is to generate electricity but which the West fears could lead to weapons manufacturing.
Nozari hailed Tuesday’s talks as a “turning point” in expanding cooperation between Iran, Qatar and Russia and said they had agreed to set up a committee of senior officials.
Miller said the new body would “review projects and implement joint projects. This will range from exploration, refining and selling gas.”
He added the committee of technical specialists would meet in Doha, Qatar’s capital, next week.
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