Washington (Platts)--12Jul2007

The US House late Wednesday approved a resolution opposing the creation
of an OPEC-style global gas cartel. 

     The measure (H.Res. 500), passed by a voice vote, also urges the US to
develop a joint strategy with its allies to reduce overall dependence on gas.

     The resolution serves as a "warning to the world's leading natural gas
producers that the US would regard an effort to create a global cartel as a
threat to its security and economic well-being," the measure's sponsor,
Florida Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, said in a statement.

     The resolution was approved last month by the Foreign Affairs Committee
and was prompted by news reports last spring that Russia, Qatar, Iran,
Venezuela and Algeria are considering forming a gas cartel.

     "We cannot and must not stand back and let yet another global extortion
racket be established," Ros-Lehtinen said Wednesday.