According to the Ministerial Statement of 26th Ministerial Meeting of GECF, the importance of unity and solidarity among GECF member countries was emphasized.

The 26th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) was held on Sunday, December 8, 2024, in Tehran, Iran.

The full text of the Ministerial Statement of 26th Ministerial Meeting of GECF follows:

In the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, the Ministers of the Member Countries of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), at the invitation of His Excellency Eng. Mohsen Paknejad, President of the GECF Ministerial Meeting for the year 2024 and Minister of Petroleum of the Islamic Republic of Iran, convened in Tehran on the 8th of December 2024 for the 26th Ministerial Meeting of the GECF.

The meeting was attended by the energy ministers and high-ranking officials from Member Countries Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. Energy ministers and high-ranking officials from Observer Countries Azerbaijan, Iraq, Mauritania, Mozambique, and Senegal were also in attendance. Additionally, high-ranking official from Oman participated as a distinguished guest.

Recalling the objectives of the GECF enshrined in its Statute and the importance of multilateral cooperation to address challenges related to energy security, stability, and sustainability,

Emphasising the importance of unity and solidarity among GECF Member Countries, in alignment with the Algiers Declaration of the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government,

Underscoring the pivotal role of natural gas in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, notably to end hunger and ensure universal access to energy, as well as in driving orderly, just, inclusive, cost-effective, and nationally determined energy transitions that leave no one behind,

The Ministerial Meeting,

1. Reaffirms the GECF’s objective to support the permanent sovereignty of Member Countries and Observer Countries over their natural resources, and the sustainable, efficient and environmentally conscious development, use and conservation of natural gas resources for the benefit of their peoples.

2. Expresses deep concern over the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the acts of deliberate attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These tensions not only threaten regional stability and peace but also pose serious risks to global energy security. Such disruptions affect vital supply chains, exacerbate energy poverty, and heighten market volatility, disproportionately impacting developing economies and vulnerable populations.

3. Reaffirms solidarity with the people of the Middle East amidst ongoing hostilities and extends condolences to the victims of violence in the region, recalls the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024, which underscored that the actions in the occupied Palestinian territories constitute violations of international law, including the principles of non-aggression and the prohibition of annexation by force, and calls for a just and lasting resolution to the Palestinian issue, to ensure peace and stability in the region.

4. Welcomes the Sultanate of Oman, acknowledging its participation as a significant step toward enhanced collaboration and expressing optimism about its potential future membership in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

5. Reiterates the importance of cooperation between producers and consumers, emphasizing the need for open, transparent, and non-discriminatory natural gas markets, and calling for enhanced dialogue between key stakeholders to ensure security of demand and security of supply.

6. Calls for stronger multilateral collaboration to ensure a balanced and inclusive approach to global energy governance, addressing challenges related to energy security, affordability, and environmental sustainability.

7. Recognizes the interconnection between energy security and food security, emphasizing the role of natural gas in supporting agricultural production and enhancing global food systems, particularly in addressing the challenges of hunger and poverty.

8. Acknowledges the GECF's sustained engagement with global stakeholders, including its collaboration with international organizations and United Nations institutions, as well as the Forum's increasing visibility in international fora.

9. Underscores the pivotal role of natural gas in driving economic development, advancing social progress, protecting the environment, and ensuring energy security, affordability, and sustainability.

10. Welcomes the record-high level of natural gas consumption in 2023 and the projected strong growth in 2024 and 2025, emphasizing the critical role of GECF Member Countries and Observer Countries in stabilizing the global gas market, ensuring reliable natural gas supplies, and meeting the sustained increase in gas demand.

11. Takes note of the GECF Global Gas Outlook 2050, which projects a 34% growth in natural gas consumption by 2050 and an increase of its share in the global energy mix from 23% to 26%.

12. Underlines the importance of timely investment in the natural gas value chain, stressing that calls to halt investment are misguided and will undermine energy security, heighten market volatility, and hinder progress toward achieving global emissions reduction targets.

13. Acknowledges the critical role of innovation and technology in optimizing the efficiency of natural gas operations, enhancing emissions reductions, and supporting global energy resilience.

14. Underscores the critical importance of protecting gas infrastructure at both national and international levels to ensure the secure and uninterrupted flow of natural gas.

15. Commends the GECF Secretariat for its dedication to expanding membership, fostering constructive dialogue with key stakeholders, delivering high-quality studies and publications, enhancing the Forum’s global visibility, promoting natural gas in COP29, and operationalizing the Gas Research Institute.

16. Welcomes the Russian Federation’s proposal to host the 8th GECF Summit of Heads of State and Government in 2026.

17. Appoints His Excellency Dr. Khalifa R. Abdul Sadek, Acting Minister of Oil and Gas, Government of National Unity, State of Libya, as the President of the Ministerial Meeting for 2025, and His Excellency Eng. Mohsen Paknejad, Minister of Petroleum of Islamic Republic of Iran, as the Alternate President.

18. Appoints H.E. Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella, the Executive Board member from the Republic of Nigeria, as the Chairman of the Executive Board, and Dr. Afshin Javan, the Adhoc Executive Board member from the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the Alternate Chairman of the Executive Board for the same period.

19. Expresses profound gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and His Excellency Eng. Mohsen Paknejad, Minister of Petroleum, for their exemplary leadership in hosting the 26th Ministerial Meeting, and extends heartfelt appreciation to the gracious people of Iran for their warm hospitality and unwavering support.

20. Decides to convene the 27th GECF Ministerial Meeting in Doha, the State of Qatar, in the last quarter of 2025.