Doha: The Doha-based Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) has stated that a lack of strategic coordination by key stakeholders to provide a long-term investment in infrastructure is one of the major impediments to improve global access to energy.
Speaking at the 8th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER8), held on the sidelines of the recently concluded 24th World Energy Congress, the GECF Secretary General Dr. Yury Sentyurin said natural gas can support access to modern, affordable, and reliable energy and that it can be developed through centralised systems such as supplying gas-fired electricity; or expanding gas networks to supply new areas. He added that natural gas could also be procured through decentralized or local grid systems. The critical role of policy support is needed not only in this matter but also in attracting investments and funds for improving access to energy, he said.
Dr. Sentyurin said that improving visibility and insights on policies affecting natural gas, as well as enhancing the reliability and transparency of data, can be achieved through appropriate cooperation and dialogue between different energy stakeholders, especially between the gas producers and consumers. The GECF believes that policies recognizing the key role of natural gas in meeting climate and sustainability challenges have an important part to play in the future.
He said the GECF places great importance on environmental objectives and believes that natural gas has an important role to place in the global energy transition towards low carbon economies - especially since compared to other fossil fuels, the use of natural gas can significantly reduce emissions of SOx, NOx, CO2, and particulate matter.
The Secretary-General reiterated that the GECF’s mission and priority objectives are centered on fostering cooperation and dialogue, among producers, between producers and consumers, between governments and energy-related industries. In this regard, he commended the role of the International Energy Forum (IEF) in stimulating the dialogue among all market actors to present different solutions to common issues.
AMER8 gathered ministers of the International Energy Forum (IEF), vice-ministers, heads of major international organisations such as the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) as well as other thought-leaders.
