GECF Concludes Summit in Qatar, Calls for Int’l Dialogue on Energy Security

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the conclusion of The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit (QNA)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the conclusion of The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit (QNA)
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GECF Concludes Summit in Qatar, Calls for Int’l Dialogue on Energy Security

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the conclusion of The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit (QNA)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the conclusion of The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) summit (QNA)

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) concluded its sixth summit, held under the slogan of 'Natural Gas: Shaping the Energy Future' in Qatar.

The 11 gas-producing countries announced they disagree with non-UN economic sanctions against GECF member states.

The leaders of the member states or their representatives met in Doha amid the Moscow-Western crisis, which threatens gas supplies from Russia to Europe, contributing to the rise in gas prices.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani called for strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the member states on the one hand and between exporters and importers on the other.

Speaking at the conclusion of the summit, the Emir appealed to ensure the security of natural gas supplies to world markets and "guarantee the market's stability."

On the sidelines of the summit, Sheikh Tamim received a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was delivered by Russian Minister of Energy and Minerals Nikolay Shulginov.

The Qatar News Agency stated that the message discussed ways to support and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and issues of mutual interest.

"To further promote our role in the production of natural gas, we are endeavoring towards increasing our LNG production capacity from 77 million tons yearly to 126 million tons yearly by 2027," he said, referring to liquefied natural gas.

He announced that Qatar is building a carbon capture facility, the biggest in the Middle East, which will isolate and store 2.5 million tons of carbon per year in four years. By 2030, the facility will isolate nine million tons per year.

"Our summit confirmed our conviction that dialogue is the optimum way to achieve consensus, enhance cooperation, and protect the interests of producers and consumers for the good of their peoples."

"The State of Qatar welcomes working with everyone to make common good, security, and stability prevalent among all peoples of the world," said the Emir.

He recalled that the last two decades highlight the central role of natural gas in the desired energy transition and in the search for a reliable source of energy that provides the right balance between achieving economic growth and dealing with environmental challenges.

The Emir affirmed Doha's continued support for efforts to protect gas exporters and consumers and establish the complete and permanent sovereign rights of member states to develop and exploit their natural resources.

The summit was attended by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and other heads of delegations.

It also included senior officials, businessmen, decision-makers in the field of economy and energy, and representatives of international institutions and companies.

The GECF says its 11 members and seven associate countries account for 70 percent of proven gas reserves and 51 percent of global liquefied natural gas exports.

The United States and Australia, two other leading exporters, are not part of the forum.



US Coast Guard Says Hurricane May Shut Oil Ports

 Vehicles are carried by ferry across Aransas Pass as Hurricane Beryl moves closer to the Texas coast, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Port Aransas, Texas. (AP)
Vehicles are carried by ferry across Aransas Pass as Hurricane Beryl moves closer to the Texas coast, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Port Aransas, Texas. (AP)
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US Coast Guard Says Hurricane May Shut Oil Ports

 Vehicles are carried by ferry across Aransas Pass as Hurricane Beryl moves closer to the Texas coast, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Port Aransas, Texas. (AP)
Vehicles are carried by ferry across Aransas Pass as Hurricane Beryl moves closer to the Texas coast, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Port Aransas, Texas. (AP)

The US Coast Guard warned of possible Texas port closures from Corpus Christi to Houston and began restricting vessel traffic because of Tropical Storm Beryl, which is expected to become a hurricane before making landfall by Monday morning at Port Lavaca.

Port closures could bring to a temporary halt shipments of crude oil to refineries and motor fuels from those plants.

Port condition "Yankee" was set by the Coast Guard captain of the port of Corpus Christi on Saturday afternoon, restricting vessel movement in ports from Matagorda Bay, 101 miles (163 km) southwest of Houston, to the US-Mexico border.

Citgo Petroleum Corp was cutting production at its 165,000 barrel-per-day Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery on Saturday ahead of the approach of Beryl to the Texas coast.

Citgo plans to keep the Corpus Christi refinery running at minimum production as the storm moves up the coast toward a projected landfall at Port Lavaca, a pipeline hub.

Oil producer Shell Plc completed the evacuation of workers from its Perdido production platform in the US-regulated Gulf of Mexico ahead of the approach of the storm, the company said on Friday night.

Production on Perdido was shut prior to the evacuations. Shell said it also evacuated workers from the Whale platform, which is due to start production later this year.

Gibson Energy, which operates a large oil terminal in Corpus Christi, said operations were continuing, but it would take further steps depending on the forecast.

The storm was moving on Saturday with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph (95 kmh), the National Hurricane Center said.

The latest forecasts would put Corpus Christi on the dry side of the storm where the lowest winds and least rain could be expected. But Beryl could bring gale-force winds to the port, which is why the Coast Guard restricts traffic or shuts the port.

Most of the northern Gulf's offshore oil and gas production is east of Beryl's forecast track.

US Gulf of Mexico offshore production of about 1.8 million barrels per day accounts for about 14% of total US crude output, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Any impact on supplies could push up prices of US oil and offshore crude grades.

Oil major Chevron Corp, among the biggest US offshore producers, said on Friday that production from its operated assets remained normal. But it evacuated nonessential personnel from some of its Gulf of Mexico facilities.

Murphy Oil Corp said it has not shut in production or evacuated personnel, and continues to monitor the storm.