Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Algeria Calls for Greater Domestic Cooperation

The seventh summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) was held on Saturday, March 2, in Algiers, the capital of Algeria. The host, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the Republic of Algeria, opened the meeting with a keynote speech. Speaking at the Abdullatif Rahhal International Conference Center, President Tebboone called for greater integration and interaction among the Forum countries.

Russia is represented at the summit by Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov, who presented the Kremlin’s vision of the global energy future to journalists on the sidelines of the forum. For Russia, gas production is a “measured step into the future.” The Russian minister emphasized the role of gas in the energy transition.

The forum approved the “Algiers Declaration” that, according to Shulginov, “will be very useful for the development of a coordinated GECF policy, for organizing the protection of critical gas infrastructure from possible accidents, as well as for simplifying the processes of membership of new countries in this energy organization.”

In this context, Iraq has expressed its desire to become an official member of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, attending the Forum in Algiers, said it was time for Iraq to “take a qualitative leap” and move from GECF observer country status to de facto membership.

Tunisian President Kais Saied emphasized the need for developing countries to establish “full authority, control, and sovereignty” over their natural resources. Saied said that through cooperation “there will be no lack of resources” and “we can be free.” Tunisia’s president has issued a stern warning to Israel, which the Tunisian leader said continues to “commit crimes” in Gaza. Saied threatened to use energy resources as a weapon to end the Israeli offensive in Palestine: “We have the capacity and resources to help the Palestinians regain their rights and establish an independent state,” the Tunisian resident said.

For Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, it is very important that gas exporting countries can have “systematic cooperation” to “exchange information” about each individual country’s activities, from exploration to gas exports. In his speech, Raisi urged the GECF to establish as soon as possible “a new mechanism for sharing experiences” and “enjoying each other’s opportunities.”

Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek el-Molla, also emphasized the need to “work together” and “coordinate our actions to achieve environmental sustainability and combat global warming.” Like his Russian counterpart, el-Molla said natural gas is a “key element” of the global energy structure that “offers enormous potential for sustainable development and, despite some criticism, will be of fundamental importance in the future.”

“Renewable energy sources,” el-Molla said, “together with traditional energy sources, will be part of the future, with countries having to reduce their use of fossil fuels gradually, without shocks.”