The Structural of Gas Exporting Countries Forum: Heterogeneity of Member Countries and Criteria for Ranking Them Regarding Their Impacts on Gas Market

Abstract

Gas Exporting Counties Forum (GECF) in an inter-governmental institution, whose impact on gas market has always been a topical issue. The main body of research work done in this regard, which has been carried out mainly by experts in consuming countries, is centered around the analysis of GECF’s impact on natural gas price in consuming markets. Unfortunately the question of homogeneity or heterogeneity of the member countries and the role which this question may play in the success of strategies and objectives of this organization has been left unattended. In this paper, we have first demonstrated the heterogeneity of member countries and then by using defined appropriate indices, member countries are ranked according to their impacts on policies and the realization of GECF’s objectives in the short, medium and long terms. The paper concludes, according to our defined criteria, that Russia, Qatar and Algeria are member countries with highest impact on GECF’s policies in the short and medium term, while Russia, Qatar and Iran are the three influential member countries regarding GECF’s long term policies.

Keywords

• Natural Gas; Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF); Ranking GECF Member Countries