The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE) recently held a virtual workshop as part of both the group’s growing relationship, cemented in 2017 during the 4th GECF Gas Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Senior experts from both the sides discussed how data is sourced, harmonised, stored, and exchanged for the benefit of their member countries and other stakeholders. It is important to note that an up-to-date database of energy statistics is crucial to the overall functioning and market dynamics of global oil and gas production and consumption.
Thus, initiatives such as JODI (Joint Organisations Data Initiative) exist; both GECF and OLADE are part of JODI, along with pioneer organisations such as APEC, Eurostat, Opec, and the UN Statistics Division.
“GECF and OLADE are natural partners as both are committed to engage in promoting co-operation and constructive dialogue on issues related to the development of gas sector and favourable market conditions,” said GECF secretary general Yury Sentyurin in his opening remarks.
OLADE executive secretary Alfonso Blanco said, “As OLADE and GECF, we are doing a lot of activities together. Data and statistics can help us build various scenarios for short, medium, and long-term future and become a useful tool for providing a different perspective. This is an important activity for the strength and growth of our sector.”
GECF and OLADE have five members in common: Algeria, Bolivia, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. The membership was celebrated by the two organisations at the signing of a co-operation MoU on November 11, 2018, on the sidelines of the 20th GECF Ministerial Meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
“The workshop is also aligned with the Malabo Declaration that states the ‘willingness to further enhance the effectiveness of the GECF in promoting international co-operation aimed at the development of the gas industry’,” added Sentyurin.
The Malabo Declaration is the outcome of the 5th GECF Gas Summit of Heads of State and Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in November 2019, and is currently serving as the effective roadmap to GECF as it becomes the voice of the gas industry worldwide.
The latest workshop was the third technical meeting between GECF and OLADE since 2017, and follows a visit of a delegation from OLADE to the GECF Headquarters in Doha to participate in the 10th Special Envoys for Data and Statistics Meeting and Workshop held in 2019.
From the GECF’s Department of Data and Information Services Department (DISD), the following officials took part in the session: Mona Shokripur, Energy Statistician; Hesham Marzouk, Databank Analyst; Amira Remadna, Energy Data Analyst; and Roberto Arenas, Head of DISD.
From OLADE’s side, the participants included Andres Schuschny, Director of Studies, Projects and Information Directorate; and David Delgado, Senior Energy Consultant participated.
Related Story