Qatar Energy Minister: Gas producing countries must be clear about their opposition to trade barriers

Qatar's Energy minister Saad Al-Kaabi stated on Thursday that gas-producing countries should make it clear that they are against trade barriers and "discriminatory" measures that disadvantage energy products.

Al-Kaabi told a meeting of ministers from the Gas Exporting Countries Forum that "we must be clear about our opposition to trade restrictions and discriminatory measures which disadvantage energy products, particularly natural gas."

He didn't clarify to what he referred. Qatar and the United States put pressure on the European Union, however, to reduce a law that could fine violators of sustainability rules 5% on their global revenue.

Al-Kaabi said last week that Qatar would not be able do business with the EU, and will even not be able supply liquefied gas, if the corporate sustainability rules of the EU are not changed.

Al-Kaabi said on Thursday that the outlook for LNG and natural gas is positive "despite geopolitical conflicts and faltering policies".

He said that the positive outlook was driven by economic growth and data centers' and artificial intelligence's booming demand for power. (Reporting and writing by Sarah El Safty, Yousef Sabah and Ahmed Elimam. Editing by Susan Fenton).

(source: Reuters)