Letter from London: ‘Gas OPEC’ may be just a matter of time

While calls for a gas equivalent of the oil alliance seem to do the rounds every few years, the arguments for such a group are stronger than ever

There is a history of hackneyed and oft-fanciful columns and papers on the emergence of ‘Gas OPEC’. Ever since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent chills down gas importers’ spines in 2007 with the suggestion of a bloc to coordinate supplies, the threat has lurked—and stayed—in the shadows. But the idea should not be seen as trite, absurd or scary—just premature—with credible reasons to think it may not be too far away. Let us start with the basics: a gas group akin to OPEC+ already exists. The Gas Exporting Countries Forum was created in 2001 as a group of aligned producers that partake in regular dialogues between their members and allied pacts such as OPEC. Granted, it does not adjust s