The sixth high-level meeting of the dialogue between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) convened on Friday at OPEC’s headquarters in Vienna.
The session was co-chaired by OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al-Ghais and GECF Secretary General Eng. Mohamed Hamel.
According to a statement from OPEC’s media department, the meeting represents a significant milestone in boosting cooperation between the world’s largest oil and gas exporting blocs at a time when global energy markets are witnessing increased demand and growing investment challenges.
In his remarks, Al-Ghais underscored the sustained rise in global demand for hydrocarbons, noting that global natural gas consumption is projected to increase by 1.6 percent in 2025, while oil demand is expected to grow by 1.3 million barrels per day.
He highlighted the long-term outlook presented in OPEC’s World Oil Outlook, which forecasts that oil and gas will continue to account for more than 50 percent of the global energy mix through 2050 — despite accelerating adoption of renewable energy. This, he said, reaffirms the enduring centrality of hydrocarbons in meeting future energy needs.
GECF Secretary-General Eng. Mohamed Hamel praised the strength of the partnership between the two organizations, emphasizing the value of sustained institutional dialogue to enhance market stability and support long-term investment frameworks aligned with rising global demand.
Established as a permanent platform for cooperation between major oil and gas exporters, the OPEC-GECF dialogue aims to promote transparency, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and reinforce the stability of global energy markets.
Friday’s meeting carried added weight amid a rapidly evolving energy landscape characterized by price volatility, the global shift toward cleaner energy sources, and the urgent need for substantial investment to secure future supplies.
Both organizations reiterated a shared conviction that the global energy transition must be fair and balanced, and that hydrocarbons will remain integral to the world economy for decades to come—alongside the continued expansion of renewable energy and low-emission technologies.
