No secretary-general for GECF

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DOHA, Qatar, July 1 (UPI) -- The Gas Exporting Countries Forum opted to postpone to October the nomination of a secretary-general during its 8th ministerial meeting in Doha.

Russia, Iran and other states in the 11-member organization convened in Doha to consider the budget for the next six months, human capital and the choice of a secretary-general.

Tehran had nominated Hojatollah Ghanimifard, vice president of investments at the National Iranian Oil Co., for the GECF secretary-general. The GECF was obligated to look to an alphabetical vetting process in the event its members could not reach a consensus.

The GECF members, however, delayed the process until October, the Tehran Times reports. The organization, meanwhile, welcomed the Netherlands as an observer to the GECF, joining Norway and Kazakhstan.

With no benchmark setting the baseline for natural gas on the world market, gas-producing nations are struggling to define market conditions.

Tehran and Moscow led the way in establishing the GECF to coordinate activity among gas-producing nations, with the GECF making decisions based on long-term deals between contractual parties.