Buhari to GECF members: Sustain pricing mechanism of gas in int’l market

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, in Tehran, Iran called on the leadership of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) to sustain the pricing mechanism of gas in the international market to the advantage of its members.

The president who noted that Nigeria has channelled its gas resources into appropriate areas for development of its economy also urges the member-countries to show mutual technic and economic cooperation so amongst themselves.

President Buhari spoke while delivering his speech at the ongoing 3rd Summit of GECF in Tehran.

The president also decried the dwindling oil prices which he said has affected the income of the Country.

He however expressed the hope that the nation’s proven gas reserve base currently put at 188 Trillion Cubic Feet could actually be in excess of 600 Trillion Cubic Feet when developed, stressing that Nigeria remained the hub for natural gas supply in West African sub region with the construction of 681 kilometer West African Gas Pipiline which currently transmits gas from the country to neighboring countries of Benin, Togo and Ghana.

“The stability of the energy and financial market is critical to ensuring investments in current and future natural gas projects. It is therefore imperative that the GECF plays a significant role towards energy security by driving the formulation of a sustainable pricing mechanism that will guarantee fair and reasonable for both producers and consumers,” Buhari said.

The president who noted the need to deploy research and development initiatives towards technology innovations in exploration and development processing, logistics and marketing for the benefit of member countries also called for collective effort to halt gas flaring.

Leaders of member- countries who attended the summit were Presidents of Russia, Venezuela, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, Bolivia and Nigeria.

President Buhari is expected back today after other series of meetings.