Deputy oil minister for international affairs and trade said the Gas Exporting Countries Forum should move beyond political dialogue and take a larger part in shaping global energy policy.
Ali-Mohammad Mousavi spoke to the oil ministry's news agency, Shana, ahead of the group's eighth leaders' summit in Moscow. (Part 2)
Q: Will the growth of LNG trade weaken pipeline exports?
Mousavi: LNG has made it easier to connect supply with consumer markets. But pipelines still have economic and operational advantages in many regional markets, especially where producers and consumers are relatively close and long-term demand is dependable. The two methods should not be seen as replacements for each other. They can play complementary roles. The best choice depends on distance, the size and stability of demand, investment costs, financing, geopolitical risk and contract terms. Diversifying routes and methods makes the market more resilient, lowers the risk of supply disruptions and improves energy security.
Q: What will the forum's 28th ministerial meeting decide?
Mousavi: The meeting will be held Monday in Moscow, chaired by Nigeria's gas minister. It is one of the forum's main decision-making bodies and is responsible for reviewing and approving policies, programs and organizational matters. Ministers will also review and finalize the main documents for the leaders' summit, including its agenda and the draft final statement. Acting Oil Minister Hamid Bord will attend and present Iran's views on the forum's strategic priorities.
Q: Where does Iran-Russia gas cooperation fit in?
Mousavi: Iran and Russia both hold substantial gas reserves and are founding members of the forum. They could cooperate on field development, technology transfer, technical and engineering services, gas trade, efficiency, transmission infrastructure and research. Iran hopes to use the Moscow meetings for bilateral talks, to review existing understandings and to find new areas to work together. Joint projects will still require close study of their economic viability, technical requirements, contracts, financing and target markets. Our approach to energy cooperation with Russia is long-term, balanced and based on mutual benefit.
Q: What is the final summit statement likely to cover?
Mousavi: It is one of the forum's key political and strategic documents and reflects members' shared views and priorities on the gas industry and market. It is expected to address the importance of natural gas in the world's energy future, secure supply and demand, investment in the gas industry, technological cooperation and strengthening the forum's institutions. It is also likely to touch on unilateral restrictions, countries' sovereignty over their natural resources, the security of energy infrastructure and the differing circumstances of countries in the energy transition. The Oil Ministry has tried to reflect Iran's views through negotiations among members. The final text requires agreement from all members and approval at the ministerial meeting and the summit.
Q: What challenges does the forum face in the coming years?
Mousavi: The first is balancing the world's need for energy with energy transition policies. The forum should use credible studies to explain natural gas's real role in energy security and economic development. The second is raising the capital needed to expand gas production, transport and export. If investment declines and energy policy becomes more uncertain, supply and demand gaps could emerge in some markets. The third is geopolitical tension and growing trade, financial and technological restrictions, which could hurt gas development in producing countries. The fourth is the need to strengthen technological capabilities, improve productivity, reduce methane emissions and develop lower-emission methods of producing and using gas. Meeting these challenges requires greater cohesion among members, more practical cooperation, a stronger research capacity at the secretariat and a more active role in international energy decision-making.
Q: How can the forum become more effective?
Mousavi: Alongside political talks at the leaders' and ministers' level, it should focus more on practical cooperation. That includes strengthening market analysis, building shared databases, improving long-term supply and demand forecasts and expanding links among members' research centers. Members could also cooperate on reservoir management, gas production and processing technology, methane reduction, energy efficiency and export infrastructure. The forum should work more with respected international energy bodies and take a bigger part in global discussions on energy security, investment and the transition. Iran supports an approach that keeps the forum intergovernmental and consensus-based while increasing its ability to offer expert solutions and influence global energy policy.
Q: What do you expect from the summit?
Mousavi: We expect it to strengthen unity among members, raise the forum's international standing and build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the gas industry. We hope it sends a clear message to the international community about increasing natural gas's share in the global energy mix, sustainable investment, secure supply and demand, and keeping energy relations free of politics. We also expect bilateral and multilateral talks on the sidelines to open new opportunities for economic, technical, trade and investment cooperation between Iran and other members. We hope the Moscow meeting, held on the forum's 25th anniversary, will be another milestone in strengthening cooperation among gas exporters and the forum's role in global energy security and stability.