XXV “Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan” international conference is organised by the State Concerns “Turkmengas” and “Turkmennebit” in partnership with Turkmen Forum, and will take place at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat on 28-29th of October 2020. The organizers have informed us that the novelty of this year’s OGT will be participation and presentation of GECF Secretary General HE Dr. Yury Sentyurin in the Conference. GECF ( Gas Exporting Countries Forum) is an international governmental organization with 20 Member Countries – Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Angola, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, Peru, United Arab Emirates, which jointly control 72% of the proven gas reserves, 46% of its marketed production, 55% of pipeline and 61% of LNG exports across the globe. The Headquarters of the Forum is located in Doha, Qatar.
OGT 2020 organizers reporter has met with a representative from GECF who shared her expectations on the upcoming event.
– Please tell us about your organization?
Being a foremost energy association, officially established in 2008, the GECF has recorded notable milestones and remains committed to supporting its Member Countries in the pursue to strengthen global energy security and meet the world’s growing energy demand, meanwhile proving to be reliable suppliers of natural gas – a prominent contributor in the global pursuit towards net-zero emissions energy systems and attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The Forum provides granular, scientifically based insights into the state of natural gas based on the diverse variety of the instruments and deliverables such as the Gas Research Institute, the GECF Global Gas Model – now with elements of artificial intelligence and digital technologies, Global Gas Outlook 2050, Annual Short Term Gas Market Report, Special Envoys on Data and Statistics, Data Exchange Mechanism, the Short-, Medium and Long Term Gas Market Reviews, Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Statistical Bulletins.
GECF increasingly engages with UN agencies, the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable growth, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), OPEC, OAPEC, APPO, IEF, IEA, IRENA, OLADE, IGU, other peers, and regional entities, as well as maintains strategic multifaceted dialogue amongst natural gas producers and consumers.
-Is Turkmenistan a member of your organization? If yes, please tell us more. If it is not yet – tell us how Turkmenistan would benefit from joining your organization
Ever since the GECF’s establishment in May 2001, when Turkmenistan alongside the other founding countries laid the solid ground for the organisation further development, the GECF Community has never stepped back from the multifaceted dialogue with the country.
HE President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow’s personal participation in the Third GECF Summit in 2015 in Tehran reveals, that this involvement is viable, tangible and mutually beneficial.
Benefits and advantages of membership in the GECF:
1.Membership in the world’s foremost international governmental organization in the field of natural gas has a positive implication on the country’s profile and position at the global energy scene.
- Multilateral interaction amongst Member Countries and non-Members on different levels, including annual Ministerial Meetings and biennial GECF Summits, held on the level of Heads of State and Government (21 Ministerial Meetings and five GECF Summits were held so far in the Member Countries).
- Direct dialogue and interactions with consuming countries at the policymakers’ level.
- Development of shared understanding of market conditions in order to establish common views and positions on global gas market development and to promote them at reputable international organizations and peers (UN General Assembly, UNFCCC, UNECE, G20, ASEAN, OLADE, IRENA, IGU, IEF), key international and regional fora (Flame, REW, Gastech, World Economic Forum in Davos, etc.).
- Full access to unique expertise in assessing and forecasting the situation on the natural gas market through providing granular, scientifically based insights into the state of natural gas based on the diverse variety of the instruments and deliverables.
- Exchange of the best practices, technological solutions and best practices, access to joint R&D projects within the GECF Gas Research Institute.
- Nomination of national representatives to the GECF Executive Board, the Secretariat, Technical and Economic Council, Special Envoys for Data and Statistics, Gas Research Institute Scientific Committee and other specialized bodies.
Have you participated in OGT conferences organized in Turkmenistan before? If not, what do you think about them?
Unfortunately, HE GECF Secretary General was not able to attend the OGT 2019, which he was invited to participate in.
Is this first time for GECF to participate and present at OGT 2020, what do you think about this conference?
The GECF considers the OGT 2020 as a unique opportunity to
– support tangible efforts of one of the GECF founding countries;
– once again recognise natural gas as the fuel that will realise the ambitious goals of the UN SDGs and the Paris Agreement;
– represent the Forum’s pivotal insights, cemented in the GECF Summits’ Declarations, at the reputable international fora;
– share main findings and projections of the GECF flagship deliverables – Global Gas Outlook 2050, quantified on the basis of the GECF Global Gas Model, Annual Short-Term Gas Market Report, Monthly and Quarterly Statistical Bulletins Collection, and others;
– further enhance the strategic dialogue between natural gas producers and exporters with the view to implement the recently initiated presidential course to support domestic gas production, attract investors, enhance knowledge and technologies exchange.
The GECF remains convinced that the OGT 2020 is set to be exceedingly instrumental in further natural gas industry expansion, advancement of much-needed energy security, supplies routes diversification, helping bolster local industry while benefitting the people of the producing countries.
- Can you share GECF plans for the central Asian region in 2021?
-This topic is to be covered by HE GECF Secretary General in his intervention during the event.
– As you know, due to travel restrictions, OGT 2020 delegates and speakers will be presenting online, but would you be willing to visit Ashgabat for next year’s event?
Of course yes, if the travel restrictions would be eased.