President of the Republic reaffirms Algeria’s commitment to secure promising common future for natural gas
ALGIERS- The President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, reaffirmed Saturday, in Algiers, Algeria's commitment to securing with the member countries of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) a promising common future for this key natural resource.
On the occasion of the opening of the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the GECF, at the Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Center (CIC), the President of the Republic gave a speech to the participants of this major global event, in which he reaffirmed “Algeria's commitment to working together with you all, for a promising common future for this natural resource, through broad and intensified dialogue and consultation between and with the players.”
“I am confident,” he added, “that this Summit’s outcomes are to help us move towards our common vision.”
The President of the Republic said that this Summit “is an opportunity to develop a common vision that preserves the interests of gas producing and consuming countries, and mirrors our commitment to achieve GECF’s goals and our determination to bolster its role and highlight its contribution to global energy security,” adding that “natural gas plays a key role in achieving sustainable development and meeting the world’s increasing demand.”
He also affirmed that “Algeria and its partners are aware that natural gas is an abundant, affordable and environmentally-friendly energy source, and supports the complementarity of renewable energy sources. Based on this observation, Algeria has always backed the idea of strengthening the role of natural gas in sustainable development and its use as a clean source alongside new and renewable energy.”
“While we aspire to support technological progress in this field, long-term contracts, fair prices and policies encouraging energy investment, the challenges facing us today require enhanced dialogue and multilateral action to reach the goals set at the creation of our Forum,” continued the Head of State.
The President of the Republic further underlined that the Summit “is an opportunity to boost cooperation through the exchange of views, experience and expertise, and engage in a strategic dialogue between the players of gas markets to map out the future process of this energy resource vital for the development and its use as a clean fuel alongside renewable energy.”
Describing GECF as a cooperation platform, President Tebboune addressed the participants of the Forum noting that “as supporters of this direction, we are more invested in stepping up dialogue so that our Forum can help cement our mutual interests, build a consensus around the vital role of gas in sustainable development and achieve our common vision.”
In this regard, the President of the Republic called for “concrete measures to further gas resources through ongoing investments, cooperation in technologies and innovation and the development of extraction and marketing techniques, especially via the GECF Gas Research Institute, which Algeria is pleased to host.”
The Gas Research Institute is “an international scientific cooperation framework intended to exchange information, share expertise and know-how along with developing partnerships with research centers and universities in the member countries and similar centers worldwide,” the President of the Republic pointed out.
On this occasion, he conveyed Algeria’s aspiration to “carry on its close cooperation with GECF members, which continues to attract new members, that will undoubtedly contribute to the efforts that are aimed at bolstering the Forum’s international standing and enabling it to achieve its strategic objectives.”
In this regard, President Tebboune urged “enhanced dialogue and cooperation between member countries, on one hand, and between exporters and importers, on the other, with a view to guaranteeing gas supplies and stability in the global market.”
The Head of State began his speech by expressing his thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the brotherly State of Qatar, for his successful presidency and effective and enlightened management of the previous session.
The President of the Republic also welcomed Mozambique, Mauritania and Senegal into GECF as new observer members.