Doha plans gas conference

DOHA, Qatar, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Qatar Petroleum announced it would be organizing an international natural gas conference in the wake of the formalization of a gas cartel in Moscow.

The seventh Doha Natural Gas Conference and Exhibition will be convened March 9 through March 12. Scheduled speakers are expected to brief the congregants on the impact of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum on the energy sector, the Gulf Times said Monday.

Officials from 12 major gas-producing nations convened in Moscow in December to formalize the GECF with a formal charter. The structure of the gas cartel would be different from the oil sector because of long-term contracts, rather than market mechanisms for crude oil.

Qatari Deputy Premier and Energy Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah said the conference also would shed light on potential investment opportunities in his country.

"We have a track record of offering a secure and transparent business climate as well as world-class infrastructure," he said.

Speakers at the March conference include European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs and Abdallah Salem el-Badri, the secretary-general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.