By SCM Staff Writer I Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025
DOHA, Qatar—Senior energy officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Nigeria, two major global oil and gas producers, have expressed a mutual desire to significantly enhance cooperation across the energy sector, particularly in gas, petrochemicals, and technology transfer.
The understanding was reached during a bilateral meeting between Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo, held on Tuesday in Doha, the capital of Qatar, according to Iran’s official news agency, IRNA.
The high-level consultation took place ahead of the 27th Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).
Minister Paknejad consulted with his Nigerian counterpart on specific avenues for deepening collaboration, with a focus on areas including the vast gas reserves of both nations, the development of their respective petrochemical industries, and the transfer of technical expertise and technology.
In addition to discussions on bilateral ties, the two officials used the opportunity to exchange views on the latest trends and developments shaping the global energy market, a key issue that is expected to dominate the GECF agenda.
The GECF Ministerial Meeting, a gathering of the world’s leading gas exporting nations, is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, October 23, in Doha.
Iran and Nigeria are both OPEC members and hold two of the world’s largest proven gas reserves. Nigeria has Africa’s largest gas reserves, while Iran possesses the second-largest globally.
Despite these vast resources, both nations face challenges in fully developing their gas sectors and maximizing export potential due to issues ranging from sanctions (in Iran’s case) to infrastructure and security challenges (in Nigeria’s).
Tehran has been seeking partners and technological cooperation to develop its massive South Pars gas field and expand its petrochemical sector, often looking to circumvent or mitigate the impact of U.S. and international sanctions.
Nigeria is working to combat gas flaring, increase domestic utilization, and expand its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity.
The Context (GECF): The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), an intergovernmental organization that brings together the world’s leading gas producers.
For members like Iran and Nigeria, the forum is a crucial venue for coordinating policy, sharing market analysis, and solidifying partnerships.
The push for cooperation between Iran and Nigeria can be seen as a strategic move by two major players to leverage their combined resources and influence within the forum and the broader global energy landscape.
