The 12th Special Envoys for Data and Statistics (SEDAS) Meeting was held virtually over 15-16 March 2021, underpinning the role of data and statistics to advance the mission of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
The 12th edition of SEDAS witnessed the guest participation of OPEC as well as a rich agenda, covering all aspects of the Data Exchange Mechanism (DEM) – one of the foundational principles behind the establishment of the Forum. This work manifests internally in the form of the annually updated GECF Global Gas Outlook 2050, Short-Term Gas Market Report, and Statistical Bulletins, and extends externally vis-à-vis partnerships with Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI-Gas) and the partner organisations.
In his opening remarks, GECF Secretary General HE Yury Sentyurin highlighted the role SEDAS plays in the continued stability of the global gas markets through timely and complete data submissions.
“We meet at a very special juncture. For more than one year now, we have been in the throngs of the COVID-19 pandemic, a tragedy that has resulted in a dramatic loss of lives and livelihoods. It has been a heavy drag on our economies, reducing export revenues, scaling back investments and fundamentally changing the way most businesses work.”
“Your role, more than never, remains at the centre of GECF’s current and future actions and, this traditional gathering of experts on Data and Statistics is of paramount importance to continue enhancing collaboration through data, information, and experiences,” noted HE Sentyurin.
In her guest keynote, OPEC Data Services Department Head Ms Boshra AlSeiari commended the productive and fruitful spirit of collaboration between OPEC and GECF and hoped that their continuation will help solidify a platform of ongoing future collaboration.
“Both of our organisations supply a commodity necessary to meet the basic needs of mankind. They have historic relationship to one another and OPEC and the GECF share many of the same member countries. We stand to benefit greatly from these joint exchanges, broadening our knowledge of energy systems as a whole and in particular the oil and gas industries, which are inexplicably tied together.
“The importance of having timely, accurate, and reliable data runs deep and is the bedrock of essential decisions made by our leaders,” said Ms AlSeiari.
The two-day meet reviewed the status of the GECF DEM procedure update, 2021 Annual, Monthly and Quarterly Statistical Bulletins, and Gas Statistical Report.
Presentations were made on GECF DEM Center System and Mobile App, Datasets behind GECF Global Gas Outlook 2050, OPEC Energy Data Collection and its Usage, Natural Gas Units and Conversion Factors, and GECF Data Quality Management, amongst others.
“I am very satisfied with the work that has been done so far and also it is important to highlight that this is a teamwork effort between GECF Secretariat and SEDAS, we feel very lucky to have high-calibre professionals in a high-performance setting,” said GECF Secretary General thanking the meeting participants for their efforts and paying a glowing tribute to SEDAS members of past and present.