Gas Exporting Countries Condemn Political Obstacles and Artificial Interference in Markets

The Algiers Declaration, endorsed on Saturday, March 2, at the end of the seventh summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Algeria, unambiguously condemned “unilateral economic restrictions and any use of climate change to discourage investment in the gas industry.” The Heads of State and Government of the GECF member countries rejected “any artificial interference in natural gas markets, including price manipulation for political purposes.”

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum sought to encourage the world to utilize natural gas as an “abundant, flexible, and reliable source of energy” that at the same time supports “the development of cleaner technologies.” In the Algiers Declaration, the GECF participating states also emphasized the need to achieve “full control of their national natural gas reserves” as soon as possible, guaranteeing their effective management to “promote sustainable development.” The document says that in the current climate of increasing volatility in global energy markets, “an active dialog between producers and consumers must be initiated to ensure price stability.”

In the context of “the crucial role of natural gas in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals” and its importance in “combating climate change,” GECF called for promoting the use of gas “in maritime and land transportation, in parallel with the development of adequate modern and innovative infrastructure.”

Finally, the Algiers Forum emphasized the importance of natural gas as an “environmentally sustainable resource” to combat the “energy poverty” that afflicts many parts of the world, from Asia to Africa to Latin America.