June 19 (Bloomberg) -- The International Energy Agency, an adviser to 26 oil-consuming nations, may build a ``safety net'' of natural-gas stockpiles to buttress supply, said the agency's executive director, Claude Mandil.

``The safety net for natural gas is to be studied and considered,'' Mandil said today at the Financial Times Global Energy Leaders Summit in London.

The plan for stockpiles is likely to be different from the oil industry's safety net of crude and oil products, he said. ``It is a must for OECD countries and all consuming countries.''

The IEA has also started discussions with other, non-IEA consuming nations, including China and India, he said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Stephen Voss in London at sev@bloomberg.netMathew Carr in London at m.carr@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: June 19, 2007 06:12 EDT