30 September – 1 October 2026 | Almaty, Kazakhstan – The Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), H.E. Dr Philip Mshelbila, participated in the 30th Kazakhstan International “Oil & Gas” Exhibition and Conference (KIOGE 2026), held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, contributing to high-level discussions on energy security, resilience, natural gas development and emerging energy value chains.
Participating in the Plenary Session titled “Global Integration: Kazakhstan’s Role in the New Energy Value Chains,” H.E. Dr Mshelbila underscored that geopolitical disruptions and energy crises should increasingly be regarded as part of the new global reality, making resilience a fundamental requirement for energy security.
Drawing lessons from recent disruptions to global gas markets, the Secretary General highlighted how a combination of supply-side measures, including new LNG project start-ups and ramp-ups, increased upstream production and deferred maintenance, alongside demand-side efficiency measures and diversification of supply sources, routes and fuels, helped avert a more severe shock.
He noted that despite an estimated 39 million tons of Middle Eastern LNG being taken off the market between March and August 2026 due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, more than 80% of this volume was compensated through additional LNG supply from other exporting countries. This, he observed, demonstrated the significant resilience already embedded within the global natural gas system, while also underlining the need to strengthen it further.
H.E. Dr Mshelbila further stressed that no country can achieve energy security in isolation, calling for deeper cooperation among countries and regions, as well as between producers, consumers and investors, to build resilient energy systems at the national, regional and ultimately global levels.
During the Strategic Session on “Gas and Petrochemicals: Transforming the Value Chain,” the Secretary General addressed Kazakhstan’s strategic use of its gas resources and the importance of establishing a sustainable commercial framework capable of supporting long-term investment across the gas value chain.
H.E. Dr Mshelbila stressed that Kazakhstan does not need to choose between meeting domestic gas demand, developing value-added petrochemicals and expanding exports. With the world-class resources to pursue all three, access to technology, competent local talent and geography straddling Asia and europe he noted that the strategic question is how to sequence these priorities, attract the necessary investment and maximize the value created from every molecule of gas.
He emphasized that enabling infrastructure, sustainable pricing and flexible long-term contracts will be critical to underpin investment across the entire gas value chain and support the development of Kazakhstan’s gas and petrochemical industries.
The Secretary General’s participation at KIOGE 2026 reaffirmed the #GECF’s commitment to strengthening dialogue and cooperation with #Kazakhstan, as an important energy-producing country, as well as with other participating international partners.