Russia's Gazprom CEO opposed to "Gas OPEC"-report
MOSCOW, June 23 (Reuters) - The head of Russian gas giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM) said on Monday an OPEC-style gas charter is not feasible as its oil equivalent is failing in its original task of regulating prices.
"This organisation no longer has any real influence on the world oil market. Lately OPEC has not made one decision that could actually affect competition," Alexei Miller told the weekly magazine Itogi in an interview.
"If one day there's talk of creating a gas OPEC, these lessons should be taken into account... Right now it's not even worth talking about it."
Russia has previously hinted at its interest in creating an OPEC-style gas group, which Europe and the United States have warned against, saying it could pose a danger to global energy security.
Russia, the world's largest gas exporter, and Iran, Qatar, Venezuela, Nigeria and Algeria have said their annual gas forum -- the seventh of which will be held this October in Moscow -- aims at increasing cooperation between key producers.
"The forum differs from OPEC in that it does not define production quotas, instead it looks at long-term strategy and investment plans in the gas industry," Miller said.
Gazprom, the country's gas export monopoly which supplies Europe with a quarter of its gas needs, will decide who will be its new chairman at its annual shareholders meeting on June 27.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has stepped down as chairman of Gazprom, and the current head of the cabinet, Viktor Zubkov, is widely expected to be elected in his place.
"(Zubkov) is the most qualified head from the list of candidates," Miller added. (Reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman; editing by James Jukwey)
