The Feasibility of Competition or Cooperation amongst GECF Member Countries in Exporting Natural Gas via Pipeline

Global Demand for Natural Gas has exhibited a considerable growth during the first decade of the 21 century. During this period، the trade in natural gas via pipeline has increased by 65 percent. The establishment of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and its policies has been regarded، by many leading exporters and importers of natural gas، as a turning point in the development of natural gas market. This is due to the fact that currently the GECF member countries possess nearly half of the global trade in natural gas and over 40% of the global trade via the pipeline. We consider، in this paper، the possibility of competition or cooperation amongst member countries in exporting natural gas via pipeline. It is concluded that the feasibility of competition or cooperation in GECF member countries is not only very weak but is possible only in three cases and between six member countries.