World Oil Players Meet in Qatar

Big gas powers meet in Qatar on Monday when they are expected to broach issues ranging from soaring production costs to whether they could ever set up an Opec-like organisation.

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) is seeking to form the gas equivalent of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec).

Algerian Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil has said the idea of a gas Opec was not initiated by the producer countries and had grown out of the fears of consumer nations.

“We may end forming a group of experts in the area to think about it and to keep thinking about it,” he said.