The aim of the GECF is to support its Member Countries' sovereign rights over their natural gas resources, as well as their ability to plan and manage the sustainable, efficient, and environmentally conscious development, use, and conservation of natural gas resources for the benefit of their peoples.

For the benefit of supply and demand stability and security in global natural gas markets, the GECF aims to create a vehicle for a more meaningful communication between gas producers and gas consumers.

According to the GECF Statute, the organization's goal is to support its members' sovereign rights over their natural gas resources, as well as their ability to develop, preserve, and use those resources for the benefit of their peoples, by exchanging experience, views, information, and coordination on gas-related issues.

Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela are among the Forum's members. Observer Members include Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Malaysia, Norway, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates.

His Excellency Eng. Mohamed Hamel from the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria has assumed office as the fourth Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the global platform of leading gas exporting countries.

HH the Amir concluded the 6th Gas Exporting Countries Forum, which was held under the slogan 'Natural Gas: Shaping the Energy Future' at Doha Sheraton Hotel on Tuesday morning. #GECF #QNAhttps://t.co/ll2X5Nw3ar pic.twitter.com/WzRKNiKI6H

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) February 22, 2022

The Doha Declaration that  held on 22 February, 2022 concluded the works of the 6th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit. It highlighted the importance of promoting natural gas as an abundant, affordable, clean, and reliable source of energy, and as the fuel of choice to fulfill the growing world energy needs, and to address climate change and enhance air quality.

The Doha Declaration also called for expanding natural gas use domestically and internationally to close the gap in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7, which disproportionately affects the poor; strengthening natural gas environmental credentials, particularly through efforts to reduce gas flaring and methane emissions, and the development of environmentally friendly technologies such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage. 

The Declaration further emphasized the importance of taking the required steps to ensure that natural gas is considered as a green good in climate and investment policies, international finance, and global trade.

The Doha Declaration urged increased use of natural gas in maritime and land transport, as well as the development of necessary infrastructure to supply natural gas to consumers; to support the fundamental role of long-term gas contracts, as well as gas pricing based on oil/oil products indexation, to ensure stable investments in the development of natural gas resources; and, finally, to enhance the GECF's positioning by increasing its global visibility and attracting new members.

The Declaration urged the GECF to capitalize on its position as the leading platform for its Member Countries to collaborate and coordinate on natural gas issues by expanding cooperation in natural gas technologies, scientifically guided research, and innovation-led capacity-building, including through the GECF Gas Research Institute.

The Doha Declaration highlighted the need for the GECF to explore new areas of collaboration with the objective of leveraging natural gas's advantages for hydrogen production as well as the creation and use of new gases.

It laid emphasis on the importance of working together within the GECF, as well as with consumers and transit countries, to safeguard critical gas infrastructure and improve resilience to natural disasters, technological incidents, and man-made threats like malicious use of information and communication technologies.

Highlights of HH the Amir's speech. #GECF #QNA pic.twitter.com/UtSubWb9iN

— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) February 22, 2022

The Heads of State and Government, on the other hand, praised Algeria's proposal to host the 7th GECF Summit in 2023. (QNA)

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