The Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada at the second gas summit in Moscow.
DOHA: The Minister of Energy and Industry, H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, has called on the gas producing countries ‘to pave way for advanced technology solutions for a safe, effective, environmental, and sustainable development of the gas industry’. He also urged the exporting nations for a better cooperation among themselves and leverage trust and cooperation with the importing countries.
Addressing the Second Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), held in Moscow yesterday, Dr Al Sada noted: “Our success will facilitate long-term investment in the natural gas industry and will create market conditions conducive to the ideal use of natural resources, thus helping achieve economic growth for everybody.”
Dr Al Sada stressed Qatar’s continued efforts to support the GECF and to ensure fair gas prices with the objective of an oil and gas price convergence. He also conveyed the greetings of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his sincere wishes for a successful summit.
He said: “Our member countries hold more than two thirds of the proven global gas reserves and produce 85 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas. This places a heavy burden upon us to implement effective mechanisms to ensure safe production, to open new markets, and to guarantee the industry’s progress and advancement.”
The Minister stressed Qatar’s position as home to the world’s third biggest natural gas reserves and the biggest LNG exporter. “Since the discovery of the North Field’s huge potential, we have placed strong emphasis on the ideal utilisation and development of our natural resources, ensuring a sustainable development and economic growth, while continuing to export clean energy to the world.”
Dr Al Sada pointed out that despite profound international political and economical changes, energy issues continue to be at the centre of attention due to the pivotal role it plays in global stability and economic development. He said the changing global energy map has seen “the transformation of many countries from energy exporters to importers and vice versa, thus creating new formulae in the regional and international energy markets.”
The Minister also highlighted the growing international interest in natural gas because of its advantages as the most environmentally friendly among fossil fuels. He said: “It is our conviction that the ideal practical way to reduce CO2 emissions lies in adopting natural gas not just as a basic alternative in energy generation but also as the source of energy for land and marine transport.”
Dr Al Sada said the First Gas Summit in Doha was “an important landmark for the gas industry and a turning point in the global interest in natural gas as a source of clean energy.” He said its main success lay in endorsing the absolute and permanent sovereign rights of member countries over their natural resources. “Today, in the Moscow summit, I can assure you that these principles are still valid,” he affirmed.
Dr Al Sada had earlier taken part in the GECF’s extraordinary Ministerial Meeting, which discussed and approved the summit’s working agenda and final statement. During the meeting, it was also agreed that the third gas summit will be held in Iran.
The minister is accompanied by an official delegation of senior Qatar Petroleum executives.
The Peninsula
