On the heels of its latest forum in Algiers, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) has grown substantially in size and influence, highlighting the essential role of natural gas in balancing global energy, promoting sustainability, and addressing market volatility, technological challenges, and geopolitical tensions. The 7th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit in Algiers …
Read More »Qatar’s Gas Ambition Affects Iran’s Reserves
As Qatar sets higher ambitions for its gas output, Iranian officials scramble to justify their under-performance in developing the South Pars field, resorting to statistical maneuvers to deflect criticism. Sakhavat Asadi, the chief executive of Iran’s Pars Special Economic Zone Organization, has claimed that Iran’s natural gas production from the …
Read More »Iran Faces Serious Challenges To Become An LNG Exporter
Iran, despite having the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves, has not yet become an LNG producer, and faces a critical shortage for essential domestic needs. Natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid form for convenient and secure non-pressurized storage or transportation is known as liquefied natural gas, or LNG. …
Read More »The U.S.-Iran Prisoner Swap: Unraveling Impacts on Gulf Security and Oil Dynamics
The recent agreement between the United States and Iran could portend well for regional security—or it could reinforce existing divisions and promote further escalatory behavior from each side, with significant economic consequences in either case. The recently announced prisoner swap between the United States and Iran has spurred debates about how it …
Read More »The Geopolitics of Iran-Qatar Electricity Grid Connection
In light of Iran and Qatar’s recent electricity grid connection, Iran should seek to expand its energy diplomacy and utilize its electricity sector to strengthen economic cooperation and regional security in the Middle East. Last February, during Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi’s visit to Qatar, the two countries agreed to connect …
Read More »Russia and the Gulf: Implications for Global Energy Markets and Moscow’s International Isolation
Pressure is growing around the world to cut off international purchases of Russian oil because of the Kremlin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In recent days, the government of Poland announced its intentions to do just that, in addition to self-embargos on Russian coal and natural gas, before the end …
Read More »Why Gulf States Can (or Cannot) Replace Russian Oil and Gas
Given Europe’s need for Russian natural gas and the lack of easily available alternatives for Russia’s energy resources in the European market in the short term, solutions to political disagreements between Europe and the Middle East are more vital now than ever. Energy flows—imports and exports—constitute a major element of …
Read More »Exploring Alternatives to Russian Natural Gas, Europe Looks to the Gulf
Washington has deliberately increased its own LNG exports to Europe, and U.S. diplomats are trying to persuade Qatar to assist in meeting part of Europe’s natural gas needs, supporting the EU’s energy security as a traditional U.S. ally. The ongoing tensions in Europe between Russia and Ukraine have contributed to …
Read More »A new era in Turkey-UAE ties? Economic relations warm as ideological tensions linger
Analysis: Amid a trend of de-escalation, Turkey and the UAE are repairing broken ties. But while economic relations are driving the rapprochement, political differences remain. Turkey’s relations with Arab countries have been strained in recent years, but the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has created a new balance of power in the region. …
Read More »A Rising Role: Qatar and its Competition in the Global Helium Market
Thanks to Qatar’s increased production of helium and massive reserves in the North Dome field, the country is now positioned to quickly increase its share in the helium export market. Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe. An inert gas, it is mainly used to cool medical diagnostic equipment …
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