Philippe Michel-Kleisbauer today (Tuesday, November 5) emphasized the importance of energy security and resilience at the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow, stating that this issue should remain a top priority for countries, especially developing nations.
The Role of Natural Gas in Economic Development
Michel-Kleisbauer pointed out that natural gas can not only support economic development but also help reduce emissions and ensure sustainable energy supply. He added: "Despite the growth outlook for demand, the continuity of this trend is not guaranteed, and its realization requires investment in production, storage, transportation, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, and distribution networks."
The Necessity of Attracting New Investments
The Secretary-General of GECF continued: "The development of new gas resources and timely provision of production capacity requires attracting new investments, formulating appropriate regulations, and fairly distributing risks between producers and consumers." He also emphasized the necessity of modernizing infrastructure and increasing the resilience of the energy system to meet future needs.
Michel-Kleisbauer, emphasizing the position of member countries in the global energy market, stated that the importance of GECF is not limited to gas reserves, transmission lines, and LNG capacities, but also the sovereign rights of countries to develop and exploit natural resources in line with national interests should be taken into account.
He referred to the different conditions of member countries and said: "The path of energy development in each country should be determined based on its specific conditions, resources, and interests, and no single model should be imposed on all countries."
Michel-Kleisbauer stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with international organizations and increase the role of governments, the private sector, and civil society in energy policymaking, adding: "Future collaborations should be more inclusive and create the groundwork for attracting investment and unlocking development capacities."
He also identified unilateral policies and certain trade and climate obligations as concerns for member countries, stating: "The implementation of energy and climate-related policies must adhere to the principle of non-discrimination and global trade rules."
The summit of the member countries of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum is held every two years, with the first summit taking place in 2011 in Doha, Qatar. This forum has 12 main members, holding approximately 70% of the world's proven natural gas reserves.
