The GECF was launched at a meeting of energy ministers in Teheran in May 2001, by the governments of Algeria, Brunei, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Russia and Turkmenistan.

The organisation describes itself as ‘a gathering of the
world’s leading gas producers aimed at representing and promoting their mutual interests’ with the objective of
increasing ‘the level of coordination and strengthen the collaboration between member countries.