Qatar sees no need for gas cartel

Qatar, which has the world's third-largest natural gas reserves after Russia and Iran, sees no need for an OPEC-style cartel of gas producers, Energy Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah said on Monday.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested last week Iran and Russia establish a structure to cooperate on gas output, much as OPEC members do on oil production.

"We do not see the need for the creation of a gas organisation [similar to OPEC] because the issue of gas is more complex...," Attiyah told reporters in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Gas producers could instead strengthen and develop the Gas Exporting Country Forum which was formed in 2001, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the idea of a group of gas producers is interesting but he does not want to see a cartel like OPEC.

Attiyah also said that there was no need for an emergency meeting of OPEC's oil exporters.

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