Energy Charter News

Registration open for the Legal Training on Investment Dispute Resolution (21-23 September 2021)

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 09:19:51 +0200

The Energy Charter Secretariat (ECS), together with the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) are organising a legal training on investment dispute resolution for governmental officials.

Mongolia is preparing for the upcoming Chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference in 2022

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:36:22 +0200

On 11 August 2021, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Kingdom of Belgium, Head of the Mission to the EU, H.E. Mr Od Och met with the Secretary-General of the International Energy Charter, Mr Urban Rusnák.

ECS signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Brussels Diplomatic Academy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 10:51:11 +0200

The Energy Charter Secretariat is proud to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding with the Brussels Diplomatic Academy (DBA) has been signed. The Brussels Diplomatic Academy of the the Vrije Universiteit Brussel specializes in post graduate education in economic diplomacy, international trade and investment.

Uzbekistan is interested in deepening cooperation within the International Energy Charter

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 23:45:55 +0200

During his visit to Uzbekistan on 15-17 July 2021, Secretary-General Urban Rusnak participated in the high-level international conference Central and South Asia: regional connectivity. Challenges and opportunities. He presented his view about energy transit and connectivity at the panel session dedicated to the Trade and Transport Connectivity for Sustainable Growth in Central and South Asia.

The Energy Charter Secretariat congratulates Mr Tigran Zakaryan on the successful completion of his secondment programme

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 09:48:27 +0200

The Energy Charter Secretariat congratulates Mr Tigran Zakaryan on the successful completion of his secondment programme. Mr Zakaryan has managed to implement all planned activities and prepared the Report on the implementation of Stage I of the International Energy Charter Investment Facilitation Toolbox (IEC IFT) in Armenia.

Public Communication on the Sixth Negotiation Round of the Modernisation of the ECT / Публичное сообщение о шестом раунде переговоров по модернизации ДЭХ

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:28:42 +0200

On 6-9 July 2021, the Sixth Negotiation Round on the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) was held by videoconference. The following topics were addressed: • Pre-investment • Regional Economic Integration Organization (REIO) • Obsolete provisions • Definition of Economic Activity in the Energy Sector • Investment protection provisions

Secretariat contributes to the workshop on 'Strengthening national capacities in applying sustainable energy policy and practices' organised by the UNECE

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 15:23:20 +0200

On 30 June 2021, the Secretariat contributed to the online workshop "Strengthening national capacity in applying sustainable energy policies and practices based on the recommendations of the Environmental Performance Reviews" that was jointly organised by the Environment and Sustainable Energy Divisions of UNECE. The workshop's goal was to foster the dialogue, share and exchange successful experiences in addressing energy issues, identify and discuss solutions to overcome challenges and barriers for sustainable development. The Secretariat was represented by the Energy Efficiency Unit. Ms. Duyan and Mr. Antonenko were invited to present 'Key challenges and opportunities for the development of sustainable energy policies in Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan' as part of the session 'Opportunities and challenges for the development of sustainable energy policies. Tools and instruments to support a transition to sustainable energy'. The intervention of the Energy Efficiency Unit was based on the In-Depth energy Efficiency Reviews conducted by the Secretariat in 2018-2021. The detailed agenda of the workshop is available here.

Milli Mejlis, the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, adopted the Draft EE Law in the first reading

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 12:40:08 +0200

On 22 June 2021, at the Milli Mejlis, the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, discussed the Draft Law 'On the Rational Use of Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency' that was developed with the technical assistance of the Energy Charter Secretariat within the EU4Energy project.

Energy Charter contributes to the ECO High-Level Experts Group Meeting

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 10:41:09 +0200

On 22-23 June 2021, the Energy Charter Secretariat took part in the 4th ECO High-Level Experts Group Meeting. The meeting was virtually hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan and attended by the delegates from Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Armenia and the Energy Charter - cooperation within the Chairmanship

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 14:13:39 +0200

As a follow-up to the Yerevan International Energy Charter Forum "Facilitating Energy Infrastructure for Sustainable Development" that took place on 16 June 2021, the Armenian Government and the Energy Charter Secretariat attempted to evaluate and quantify some preliminary results of the joint work over the last years and the ongoing cooperation within the Armenian Chairmanship in 2021.

Yerevan International Energy Charter Forum

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 15:57:47 +0200

On Wednesday, 16 June 2021 the high-level Yerevan International Energy Charter Forum took place online discussing the topic “Facilitating Energy Infrastructure for Sustainable Development”. The Forum was jointly organized and hosted by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia and the International Energy Charter.

Energy Charter Secretariat contributes to the UN ESCAP’s Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable and Clean Energy in North and Central Asia

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 15:24:36 +0200

On 9-10 June 2021, the Energy Charter Secretariat’s Knowledge Centre participated in the Expert Group Meeting on Sustainable and Clean Energy in North and Central Asia under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

International Energy Charter Annual Report 2020

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 09:45:29 +0200

The Energy Charter Secretariat has published the Annual Report for 2020. The Report summarises the activities throughout the year and highlights the Azerbaijani Chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference.

Public Communication on the fifth negotiation round of the Modernisation of the ECT - Публичное сообщение о пятом раунде переговоров по модернизации ДЭХ

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 14:58:23 +0200

On 1-4 June 2021, the Fifth Negotiation Round on the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) was held by videoconference.

Newly designated Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the EU visited the Energy Charter Secretariat

Thu, 20 May 2021 18:27:36 +0200

Today, the 20 May 2021 the Secretary-General of the International Energy Charter, Mr. Urban Rusnák, received the newly appointed Head of the Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the European Union, H.E. Mr. Margulan Baimukhan.

National Energy Summit: Nigeria retains interest in joining the Energy Charter Treaty

Tue, 11 May 2021 14:14:09 +0200

The National Energy Summit of Nigeria, postponed by over a year due to the Corona virus pandemic, took place in Abuja, Nigeria, over two long days on April 13-14, 2021. The Summit was organized by the government of Nigeria, namely by the Energy Commission of Nigeria, with the support of the Energy Charter Secretariat.

Armenia assumes the Chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference for 2021

Fri, 07 May 2021 11:12:00 +0200

As of 1 January 2021, Armenia assumed the Chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference for one year. The Conference works on an annually rotating basis, and each year a new country takes over leadership to direct the highest decision-making body of the Energy Charter process. The International Energy Charter would like to welcome the new Energy Charter Conference Chair, Mr Suren Papikyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia who was nominated by the Armenian Government. The Government also nominated the current Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Mr Hakob Vardanyan, to serve as Vice Chair. Both Chair and Vice Chair were approved on 16 December 2020 by the Conference. Heeding rapid developments in the energy world and defined priorities, Armenia has expressed interest in promoting the energy transition and creating pathways for fostering a climate-neutral energy industry, in line with the commitments to Paris Agreement. The priorities for Armenia in 2021 are aimed at facilitating free and diversified energy markets, promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency, strengthening policies for sustainable development, improving energy integration and ensuring reliable, innovative, digitised and affordable energy supplies. These topics will be the focus for the 32nd Ministerial Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference to be held in Yerevan on 14-15 December 2021. Under the Chairmanship, Armenia will also host the International Energy Charter Forum in 2021.

Uzbekistan is using the International Energy Charter on its way to carbon neutrality

Thu, 06 May 2021 22:59:00 +0200

Energy Charter Secretariat participated in a hybrid event jointly organized by the Mission of Uzbekistan to the EU and the ECS on “Fostering ground breaking European investment in Uzbekistan as a means of powering economic growth and creating jobs galore”

Investor-State Mediation Online Workshop for State Officials

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:21:00 +0200

There is increasing interest in the potential for mediation to resolve Investor-State disputes. Following the success of the joint training for investor-State mediators (running since 2017), the International Energy Charter, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) have jointly designed a workshop specifically focused on the State representative’s role in an investor-State mediation and /or solving investors grievances.

Comment: Quo Vadis Energy Charter Treaty?

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 13:09:00 +0200

The Energy Charter Treaty is one of the most intriguing pieces of international public law. Signed in 1994 the ECT is a facilitator of international energy cooperation from the Pacific to the Atlantic right across the Eurasian landmass.