Data innovations, best practices under spotlight at SEDAS meet

The 13th Special Envoys for Data and Statistics (SEDAS) Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) was held on Tuesday (March 15) via videoconference, with representation of GECF member countries as well as data experts from partner organisation OPEC.
In his welcoming remarks, GECF Secretary General Mohamed Hamel emphasised the role of SEDAS in the continued stability of gas markets with timely and complete datasets. He also urged the participants to refer to the Doha Declaration of the recently-held 6th GECF Summit of Heads of States and Government as the guiding document.
“The exchange of information, data and experiences is at the core of the objectives of the GECF, as enshrined in its Statute. It is also a key element in any energy study, analysis, outlook and benchmarking,” said Hamel, adding: “This exchange is a cornerstone in our cooperation with international organisations.”
The 13th edition of SEDAS covered a whole gamut of data and statistics deliverables of the GECF, based on the Member Countries’ adopted Data Exchange Mechanism (DEM). The DEM manifests internally in the form of the annually updated GECF Global Gas Outlook 2050, Short-Term Gas Market Report, and periodical Statistical Bulletins, and extends externally through partnerships with the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI-Gas) and other organisations.
The delegates revised, discussed, and evaluated the performance and recent updates on the Monthly and Quarterly Statistical Bulletins, the Gas Statistical Reports; designed for internal release and the GECF Annual Statistical Bulletin (ASB); the statistical flagship publication of the Forum and available for public release; as well as other valuable digital tools designed to support GECF Members and increase the visibility of the energy statistics.
Representing OPEC, Boshra Al Seiari, Head of Data Services Department, stressed the importance of orienting the data exchange mechanism to meet the expectations of both OPEC and the GECF Member Countries. The OPEC Coordinator in Energy Data and Statistics said: “Our important exchanges of data and expertise contribute extensively to objective and informed discussions about the world’s energy market. These exchanges have also enriched the content and quality of sister publications.”
OPEC and the GECF contribute to their respective annual outlooks of World Gas Outlook and Global Gas Outlook 2050.
Thanking the participants, Rixio Morales, Head of Data and Information Services Department at the GECF emphasised that now more than ever the need for accurate and timely energy statistics is paramount for an evolving energy market.