President Vladimir Putin of Russia continued to toy with the idea of a "gas Opec" yesterday, saying Russia would co-ordinate its gas supply activities with other large producers.
Speaking during a visit to Qatar, which has the world's third largest proven natural gas reserves, Mr Putin for the second time in two weeks suggested he was open to the idea of creating a gas exporters' organisation, though insisting it would not be a price-fixing group.
His comments are at variance with those of ministers such as Viktor Khristenko, in charge of energy, who last week described as a "fantasy" the idea that Russia might form a cartel with countries such as Iran and Algeria.
"Who said that we have rejected the idea of a cartel?" Mr Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. "I said it was an interesting idea. But whether we need a cartel, whether we will create such an organisation, is a separate issue."
Mr Putin said he had discussed the idea with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, and had agreed that producers should "not repeat the mistakes of other cartel-type organisations". Senior businessmen including the heads of Lukoil, Gazprom and Rosoboronexport, the state arms export agency, are accompanying Mr Putin.
