Energy Charter News

Azerbaijan assumes the Chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference for 2020

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 09:17:29 +0100

As of 1 January 2020, Azerbaijan takes over the Chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference for the year. The Conference works on an annual rotating basis, and each year a new country takes over leadership to direct the highest decision-making body of the Energy Charter process.

Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic visits the Energy Charter Secretariat

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 15:03:13 +0100

On the 13 December 2019, His Excellency Mr Muktar Djumaliev, the recently appointed Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Kingdom of Belgium, paid a courtesy visit to the Energy Charter Secretariat and met with the Energy Charter Secretary General Dr Urban Rusnák.

Post Conflict Reconstruction Strategy Study for the Electricity and Energy Sector of Yemen

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 09:22:13 +0100

Over the last decade, the demand for energy services in Yemen has accelerated, as a result of economic development and population expansion. Electricity demand, as indicated by the Yemen Public Electricity Corporation (PEC) has reached an increase of 9.6 percent annually since 2000 (PEC, 2006). PEC estimated that this rapid growth rate would continue in the long term. The rapid increase of electricity demand puts additional pressure on the poorly performing electricity supply industry. The electricity sector of Yemen has been part of social and political agenda of the government.

30th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference concludes in Brussels

Fri, 13 Dec 2019 14:19:06 +0100

On 10-11 December 2019, the Albanian Chairmanship hosted the 30th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference in Brussels, Belgium. This year’s Ministerial Session was chaired by Mr Ilir Bejtja, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania, and Vice-Chair of the Energy Charter Conference. The event was dedicated to facilitating investment in renewables, diversification and efficiency.

The International Energy Charter holds its Annual Symposium in China

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 11:52:00 +0100

The International Energy Charter and the China Electricity Council held its annual meeting & symposium back to back with the Investment Mediation Training in Beijing. The Training was co-hosted on 27 November 2019 with the China Electricity Council (CEC) and the Energy Charter Secretariat providing an overview of the work on investment mediation including the Investment Mediation Guide.

The International Energy Charter approaches Bangladesh and Nepal

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:40:05 +0100

A delegation from the Energy Charter Secretariat travelled to Nepal and Bangladesh to support the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) accession process of countries in that region. During the week of 18-24 November 2019, Secretariat officials contributed to a seminar on Resource Integration in Central Asia and its Impact on South Asia, which was organised by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Kathmandu, Nepal. The seminar included the participation of over 30 experts and aimed to evaluate prospects for greater levels of energy sector cooperation between the Central and South Asian regions. The event took into account the energy production potential of Central Asian states and the high levels of energy demand in South Asia. The seminar was addressed by the Head of the EU Delegation in Nepal, officials from the government of Nepal and European diplomats operating locally.

30th Energy Charter Conference moves to Brussels

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 17:14:01 +0100

Due to the devastating earthquake that struck Albania on the 26 of November, and the continuing aftershocks, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has declared a state of emergency.

Energy Charter Treaty Forum 2019 in Singapore

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 10:19:06 +0100

On 20 November 2019, the Singapore office of the Permanent Court of Arbitration hosted an international event promoting awareness about the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) in South East Asia. The event was held in cooperation with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the Ministry of Law of Singapore. Under the headline, The Promise of Arbitration: Enhancing International Peace, Cooperation and Sustainability through Dispute Settlement, governmental officials, legal practitioners and academia discussed issues of governance and innovative approaches in dispute settlements in global and regional contexts.

Eswatini considers closer collaboration with the International Energy Charter

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 08:54:00 +0100

On 14-15 November 2019, a delegation from the Energy Charter Secretariat conducted a working visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in support of the country’s accession process to the Energy Charter Treaty. Eswatini became an Observer to the Energy Charter Conference in December 2015, following its signature of the International Energy Charter declaration, and was invited by the Conference to accede to the Treaty in November 2018. It is currently in the ratification stage of Treaty accession. The Head of the Secretariat’s Expansion Unit conducted meetings with Eswatini government officials from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, as well as the Office of the Attorney General, for talks on the remaining steps that the Kingdom still needs to take to finalise its ratification processes.

Electricity grid connection rules for renewable energy

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:59:39 +0100

On 19 November 2019, the EU4Energy Governance Project held a Capacity-building Seminar on Electricity Grid Code Connection Rules for Renewable Energy Generators. The objective is to increase knowledge on EU and international practices for renewable energy grid connection. A guideline for setting up minimum standards and technical requirements for renewable energy connection was developed specifically for Belarus and presented during the seminar.

Investment Arbitration Masterclass concludes in Brussels

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:08:02 +0100

The 4th edition of the Investment Arbitration Masterclass organised in Brussels by the Legal Affairs unit of the Energy Charter Secretariat concluded after four intense days (4-7 November 2019). The interactive exercises were focused on providing 20 government officials (from 10 countries and the European Commission) and legal practitioners with hands on training (including mock exercises) about the practicalities and intricacies of the investment arbitration process, the assessment of damages and strategic communication.

Long-time Energy Charter Colleague Passes Away

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:50:59 +0100

The Secretariat regrets to announce the loss of a former colleague Ms Galina Romanova, who sadly passed away on 10 November 2019 in Moscow, the Russian Federation.

Energy Charter Conference Gives Green Light for Negotiations on Modernisation of the ECT

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 18:12:33 +0100

On 6 November 2019, the highest decision-making body of the International Energy Charter – the Energy Charter Conference (the Conference) – approved mandate, procedural issues and timeline for negotiations on modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (the ECT).

1st Annual OPEC-ECS-OFID Legal Workshop takes place in Vienna

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 17:12:48 +0100

OPEC, OPEC’s Fund for International Development (OFID) and the Energy Charter Secretariat (ECS) hosted a two-day workshop at the seat of OPEC, in Vienna Austria on 30-31 October 2019. It was opened by the OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo who emphasised the synergies and the importance of stronger collaboration among the institutions in light of the common challenges. In his speech Mr Barkindo thanked Energy Charter Secretary General Dr Urban Rusnák for his support for the event and emphasised that he is looking forward to further collaboration with the Energy Charter in the future.

Energy Infrastructure Investments in East Africa

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 12:15:07 +0100

The rapid development of regional energy infrastructure is necessary to achieve economic development and growth in East Africa. This paper examines the role of the International Energy Charter and the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) process in facilitating investments in energy infrastructure in East Africa. The paper highlights major renewable and conventional energy projects in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania that have regional implications.

Energy Investment Risk Assessment publication EIRA 2019

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0100

The Energy Investment Risk Assessment (EIRA) is a publication of the Energy Charter Secretariat that evaluates specific risks affecting energy investment that can be mitigated through adjustments to policy, legal and regulatory frameworks. Download the 2019 version here or for more details, visit the EIRA website at: eira.energycharter.org

International Energy Charter Forum highlights the Energy Transition

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 10:06:37 +0200

On 23-24 October 2019, the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan and the International Energy Charter jointly organised the Baku International Energy Charter Forum in Azerbaijan on the topic of “Enabling Energy Transformation through Technology and Policy Innovations”. Almost 200 participants, including Ministers, high-level officials and leading experts from Member and Observer countries, international organisations, the energy industry and academia participated in the Forum.

Updated statistics on Investment cases under the Energy Charter Treaty

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 15:07:20 +0200

Information about the claims has been compiled on the basis of public sources, including specialised reporting services. Since 2001, when the first case invoking the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) was registered, the Energy Charter Secretariat tracked 128 publicly known investment arbitration cases where the ECT was invoked (sometimes together with a BIT).

Energy Efficiency Task Force for Buildings in Armenia

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 15:38:43 +0200

On 17 October 2019, EU4Energy and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia organised the first meeting of the Building Energy Efficiency Task Force. Deputy Minister Hakob Vardanyan opened the meeting.

The International Energy Charter strengthens ties with West Africa

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 11:41:19 +0200

On September 16 2019, the International Energy Charter participated in the Second Steering Committee meeting of the Programme for Improving the Governance of the Energy Sector (AGoSE) of the ECOWAS Member States, which took place in Abuja, Nigeria. The Energy Charter Secretariat has developed a track record of cooperation with ECOWAS (ie, the Economic Cooperation Organisation of West African States) in recent years, since a number of the countries from West Africa are currently in the process of acceding to the Energy Charter Treaty. The Secretariat’s cooperation with ECOWAS includes a project component of the AGoSE Program, where the Energy Charter is assisting ECOWAS member states with a number of capacity building activities designed to enhance regional cooperation as well as energy governance in West Africa. The current cooperation between the Secretariat and the ECOWAS Commission is strongly endorsed by the EU Delegation in Nigeria.