The gas troika

Energy powers Iran, Russia and Qatar will hold talks on Wednesday in Doha on gas cooperation, Iranian gas officials said on Monday.
Russia, Iran and Qatar -- which are respectively ranked first, second and third in the world in terms of gas reserves -- agreed to boost coordination at a meeting in Tehran last month.
After the meeting, Iran said there was consensus to set up a gas grouping like the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), drawing criticism from the European Union which opposes any group that could act like a cartel.
Russia referred to a "big gas troika", which should become a permanent body holding regular meetings.
"The second round of negotiations between Iran, Qatar and Russia on expanding cooperation between the three sides will start on Wednesday, Nov. 12 in Qatar's capital Doha," the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) said in a statement on its website.
Gas officials told Reuters NIGEC managing director, Reza Kasaeizadeh, would head the Iranian team.
Kasaeizadeh told Reuters last month that creating a group of exporting countries would help harmonise pricing formulas and bring security to the growing market for the fuel.
Analysts say a gas body would not be able to turn gas taps on and off as OPEC does with oil, but it could share insights on upstream contract terms when it deals with gas investors.
Gas consumers like the United States and European states have opposed the formation of any gas body like OPEC, arguing that the market should set prices.