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Russian energy minister expects productive meetings with his counterparts in Doha

DOHA, November 17. /TASS/. Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak expects his bilateral meetings with Energy Ministers of oil and gas producing countries in Doha, Qatar, to be productive.

"We expect the talks to be productive," he said when talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). Novak added that he does not rule out contacts with representatives of Iran in Doha.

Novak will hold a series of bilateral meetings during his visit to Doha on November 17-18.

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Energy minister says chances of OPEC reaching oil freeze deal by November are high

Bilateral meetings are planned with Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry Muhammad Salih al-Sada and Bolivia’s Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy Luis Alberto Sanchez Fernandez.

The Russian minister is visiting Qatar within the framework of the 18th ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

Apart from that, he will take part in informal consultations with representatives of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) is an international non-government organizations established in 2008 on the basis of an informal association of gas producing and exporting countries. The first summit of the organization was held in Doha, Qatar, in 2011, the second - in Moscow in 2013. GECF member countries control more than 70% of global gas reserves, 40% of gas pipelines and account for 65% of global trade in liquefied natural gas.

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Alexander Novak OPEC

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