Iran Stands as Cornerstone of Progress in Global Oil, Gas Markets: GECF Secretary General

Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) said on Saturday in Tehran that Iran stands as a cornerstone of progress in global oil and gas markets.

Opening Remarks of Hamel at GECF Expert Workshop follows:

Your Excellency Sayyed Mohammad Ali Mousavi, Deputy Minister for International Affairs and Trade,

Honorable guests,

Essalam alaykoum wa Rahmat allahi wa barakatouhou.

First, on behalf of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), allow me to extend my deepest condolences on the recent passing of the brother of His Excellency Mohsen Paknejad, minister of Petroleum of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Our thoughts and prayers are with His Excellency during this difficult time. May Allah grant him patience and strength, and may his late brother rest in eternal peace.

Excellency, dear guests,

I would like to welcome you all to this expert workshop and I thank you for joining us today.

It is indeed a distinct honor to be among such a distinguished assembly of thought leaders and experts from Iran’s esteemed oil and gas industry.

Let me first extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency Dr Seyyed Ali Mohammed Mousavi, Deputy minister for Trade and International Affairs, for honoring us with his presence and for the gracious hospitality and excellent arrangements.

Throughout history, Iran has held a central position in shaping the future of energy. As one of the world's oldest oil producers, Iran’s energy journey began with the discovery of oil in Masjed Soleiman in 1908, marking the first oil well in the Middle East.

In 1951, Iran made history again with the nationalization of the oil industry, a bold step that set a precedent for producing countries to seek control over their country’s petroleum assets and paved the way to the adoption by the UN General Assembly in December 1962 of the landmark resolution on permanent sovereignty over natural resources.

Iran’s pivotal role continued with its co-founding of OPEC in 1960, a landmark initiative that unified oil-exporting countries and empowered them to collectively shape global oil markets. Later, in 2001, Iran played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), here in Tehran, and further advanced its development under the able leadership of His Excellency Mohammad-Hossein Adeli as Secretary General as well as the competent, hard worker and team players representatives and staff members from your esteemed country.

Today, with its vast resources, technological expertise, and forward-thinking vision, Iran stands as a cornerstone of progress in global oil and gas markets.

The resilience demonstrated by Iran in overcoming numerous challenges, including the unilateral coercive measures, is truly remarkable and deserves the highest praise.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The GECF is an intergovernmental organization comprising 20 member countries from four continents. Together, they account for 70% of global gas reserves and 40% of marketed production.

Three technical departments are responsible for undertaking the research and analysis. Their Heads are all present here in this expert meeting and they will walk you through their recent findings and the four flagship publications of the GECF: the MGMR, the AGMR, the GGO and the ASB.

Dear guests,

Energy has long been the cornerstone of economic development. From the dawn of civilization to the modern digital age, access to affordable and reliable energy has driven human progress. Without energy, economies would grind to a halt.

But energy is more than just an economic driver—it is fundamental to human empowerment and well-being. Access to energy means access to food, clean water, shelter, healthcare, education, jobs, warm homes, and many other essential needs and modern services.

At the GECF, we analyze energy systems and their evolution through the lens of sustainable development with its three mutually interlinked pillars of economic development, social progress and environmental protection.

The position that the GECF advocates is anchored into reality not wishful thinking: to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set out in the UN Development Agenda 2030, and to fulfill the UNFCCC objectives, the world must leverage all available energy sources and technologies. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Energy pathways shall be tailored to national circumstances, capabilities, and priorities.

For 2.1 billion people who lack access to clean cooking, switching from traditional biomass to LPG represents considerable progress, offering substantial health, environmental, and economic benefits. For those who are economically affluent and higher on the energy ladder, transitioning to cleaner fuels such as hydrogen could be a promising pathway, provided it does not significantly impact purchasing power. Ensuring that energy transitions are equitable, orderly and economically viable is crucial for widespread adoption and long-term sustainability.

This view is further supported by the fact that the world will need even more energy in the future. The GECF projects a 20% increase in primary energy demand over the coming three decades, primarily in developing countries, as the global population increases by an additional 1.7 billion people by 2050, urbanization expands, the size of the global economy more than doubles, and the universal quest for higher living standards accelerates.

The energy transition cannot be approached as a simple on-off switch. It is an evolutionary and transformative process that requires time to ensure it is orderly, equitable, just, affordable, and leaves no one behind.

Hydrocarbons will remain as part of the global energy mix for decades to come. However, their contribution in expanding energy system will progressively decline from 80% today to 63% in 2050.

Natural gas is projected to be the second fastest growing energy after renewables.

The cleanest of hydrocarbons, it is available, flexible, and versatile. It serves as a sustainable alternative to traditional cooking and heating fuels, significantly reducing indoor pollution, enhancing economic productivity and curbing deforestation. Transitioning from coal to natural gas enhances urban air quality, improves energy efficiency and dramatically lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Natural gas complements renewables by providing flexibility and stability to emerging renewable-based power systems, when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing or hydro power is sufficient in period of recurrent drought.

Additionally, as a key feedstock in fertilizer production, natural gas supports food security and contributes to eradicating hunger.

Natural gas demand is projected to increase by 34% over the period to 2050, and its share in the global energy mix is expected to rise from 23% today to 26% in 2050. As a matter of fact, these figures could be even higher if the substantial electricity demand driven by expanding artificial intelligence data centers is fully considered.

Ladies and gentlemen

Security of supply and security of demand are equally important. These are two sides of the same coin.

Ensuring security of supply hinges on timely and adequate investment. The cumulative investment required in upstream and midstream sectors to meet the growing gas demand and guarantee natural gas supply security is projected to exceed US$9 trillion.

Security of demand is just as critical. A stable policy environment and predictable demand over the long term enable producers to plan their operations and investments effectively. This security also entails continued access to markets and low-cost financing, protection of critical infrastructures, as well as economic, regulatory, and contractual stability.

I wish to also underline the fundamental role that technology plays in enhancing the security, affordability, and sustainability of natural gas. Advanced extraction and production technologies, such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, have unlocked vast reserves, ensuring a stable and secure supply. Innovations in transportation and storage, including LNG (liquefied natural gas) technology, have made natural gas more accessible and economically viable across markets. Moreover, technological advancements in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is crucial for mitigating environmental impacts, allowing for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with natural gas use. Additionally, advanced monitoring systems, including by satellite, could contribute to reducing gas flaring and methane emissions. Finally, AI has the potential to make natural gas operations more efficient.

In this vein, the GECF Member Countries have decided to expand their cooperation to technology and have established the Gas Research Institute headquartered in Algiers.

In this context, I have visited last March the Research Institute of the Petroleum Industry, RIPI, and I was impressed by its capabilities and the high quality of research that it undertakes. Our ambition is to make the GRI a platform for cooperation among MCs research institutes and create specialized technology clusters to leverage the resources of our MCs and benefit from their capabilities through networking, joint research activities, and professional development. This is our ambition for next year inshaAllah.

Once again, thank you for being with us and I wish you a successful workshop.

Thank you.

- Shana