Russia in favor of expanding Gas Exporting Countries Forum, but this a difficult process - Shulginov

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 11 (Interfax) - Russia is in favor of increasing the number of participants in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum or GECF, but this process is not straightforward, Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said.

A meeting of GECF ministers will be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in October.

"As for the GECF, our task is as in previous year to enhance the authority of this organization. We will also discuss gas supply restrictions [at the meeting]," Shulginov said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 TV channel on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

"Crucially, we'll be trying to thrash out a position on the inadmissibility of actions to destroy the energy infrastructure associated with Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. We need, of course, to develop a position so that there is a consensus on such events," he said.

Bringing additional members into the GECF will be considered at the meeting, Shulginov said.

"We're in favor of increasing the number of GECF participants. And we are not alone, this seems to be the general feeling, but it's very difficult. We'll billion rubles discussing this problem as well," Shulginov said.