Energy Charter News

A Video Call Held with the Chair of the Energy Charter Conference

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:56:00 +0200

On 3 July, the Secretary General of the Energy Charter held a videoconference call with His Excellency Mr Parviz Shahbazov, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Energy Charter Conference this year. Keeping in line with the tradition of regular update and communication, the parties discussed a number of matters relevant to both the Chairmanship and the current activities within the Energy Charter Process. In particular, H.E. Minister Shahbazov was updated on the recent meetings of subsidiary bodies and the upcoming week of the first round of negotiations on modernisation. Further, the parties engaged in a discussion regarding current and future planning of the Azerbaijan Chairmanship in light of the pandemic, namely the December Statutory Conference and Ministerial Session as well as other potential events linked to the Chairmanship. It was stated that Azerbaijan, both as Chairing country and a Contracting Party was following closely all events and meetings and developing its position.

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

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:16:04 +0200

Investor-State Mediation: An Expert Roundtable 17 July (online)

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 12:15:28 +0200

The Energy Charter Secretariat (ECS), together with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Mediation Institute (IMI), the Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI), the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and UNCITRAL are organizing an expert roundtable on investment mediation.

Industry Advisory Panel welcomes SolarPower Europe as its newest member

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 09:02:21 +0200

On 19 June 2020, the International Energy Charter Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) welcomed SolarPower Europe as its newest member. SolarPower Europe represents over 200 upstream and downstream organisations from the entire solar value chain. The aim of the organisation is to shape the regulatory environment and enhance business opportunities for solar power in Europe and to ensure that solar energy is the leading contributor to the Europe's energy system. SolarPower Europe's mission is to shape the regulatory environment to promote the growing market opportunity for solar in Europe. The Industry Advisory Panel is the expert consultative body to the Energy Charter Conference, providing policy advice from energy companies, international business associations and financial institutions on energy investment and the functioning of energy markets. The Panel includes members from all sectors of the energy industry and from a wide range of Member and Observer countries to the Energy Charter Treaty.

A new Energy Charter Treaty as a complement to the Paris Agreement

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:50:07 +0200

As part of the ongoing public discussion on the Energy Charter Treaty and its role in the energy transition the Secretary General Dr. Urban Rusnak of the International Energy Charter was approached by Karel Beckman for an interview for the www.borderlex.eu portal. The full text can be read in the pdf link below: A new Energy Charter Treaty as complement to the Paris Agreement

Updated statistics on investment arbitration cases under the Energy Charter Treaty

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 10:13:40 +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 130 publicly known investment arbitration cases where the ECT was invoked (sometimes together with a bilateral investment treaty). The ECT remains the most frequently invoked international investment agreement. The Secretariat welcomes any additional information or clarification on specific cases at legalaffairs@encharter.org.

Video Conference with Armenia the upcoming Energy Charter Conference Chairmanship in 2021

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 16:44:44 +0200

On 4 June 2020, the Energy Charter Secretariat held a video conference with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia which will be acting as the entity in charge of the Energy Charter Conference in next year. Mr Hakob Vardanyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure and Vice-Chair of the 2021 Conference, who led the conference call, was joined by Mr Tigran Melqonyan, the Head of Energy Department. The Secretariat’s team was led by the Secretary-General Dr. Urban Rusnak and included officials from the legal, energy efficiency and investment units, and the EU4Energy Programme.

Energy Charter Video Conference with the Azerbaijan Chairmanship

Fri, 15 May 2020 14:58:59 +0200

On 14 May 2020, the Energy Charter Secretariat held a video conference with the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan which is also acting as the entity in charge of the Energy Charter Conference this year. Mr Samir Valiyev, Deputy Minister of Energy and Vice-Chair of the Conference, who led the conference call, was joined by the Ministry officials representing its legal department, the departments of international cooperation, energy efficiency and oil and gas. The Secretariat’s team was led by the Secretary-General and included officials from the legal, transit, energy efficiency units and the EU4Energy Programme.

Uzbekistan joins the Investment Facilitation Toolbox Webinar

Mon, 04 May 2020 08:30:32 +0200

On 29 April 2020, the Energy Charter Secretariat hosted a technical webinar with the Republic of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the Investment Facilitation Toolbox. Participation included the Energy Charter Secretary-General Dr Urban Rusnák, Mr Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov (First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan) and Amb Dilyor Khakimov (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Belgium)

The Energy Charter and Turkmenistan hold high-level meeting

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 09:12:21 +0200

On 28 April 2020, the Energy Charter Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, held a video conference call with high representatives of the Turkmenistan government led by Mr Y Kakayev, Special Advisor to the President of Turkmenistan on oil and gas matters and by Mr Berdiniyaz Matiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Other participants included Deputy Ministers of Finance, Justice, and Energy, and Deputy Chairmen of Turkmengaz and Turkmenneft State Concerns. The conference call was organised at the initiative of Turkmenistan, to render an opportunity to get updated on issues related to energy and Energy Charter Process.

Energy Charter video-conference with Central Asian Ambassadors

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:59:51 +0200

On 27 April 2020, the International Energy Charter organised a video-conference to discuss recent developments in Central Asia. Participants included HE Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ms Aigul Kuspan, HE Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr Muktar Djumaliev, HE Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr Erkinkhon Rahmatullozoda, HE Ambassador of Turkmenistan Mr Chary Atayev, HE Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr Dilyor Khakimov and the Secretary General Dr Urban Rusnák.

EU4Energy Webinar – Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Armenia

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 14:31:38 +0200

On 22 April 2020, a technical webinar was organised, in the framework of the EU4Energy support, to developing a consistent energy performance of building calculation methodology in Armenia. The main task of the project is to support the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia in developing a sound regulatory framework for the energy performance of buildings in line with EU best practices.

International Energy Charter 2019 Annual Report

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 13:39:23 +0200

The Energy Charter Secretariat has published the Annual Report for 2019. The Report summarises the activities throughout the year and highlights the Albanian Chairmanship of the Energy Charter Conference.

Energy Efficiency Policies of Azerbaijan Reviewed

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:23:37 +0100

The Energy Charter Secretariat is pleased to announce that the In-Depth Review of the Energy Efficiency Policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan is now available on our website. The In-Depth Review was prepared in 2019 by the Secretariat in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan and the final recommendation of the report was approved by the Energy Charter Conference in December 2019. The In-depth Energy Efficiency Reviews have a standard format and are broad in scope, analyse the economic and energy context of the country, patterns of energy use, energy efficiency policies and institutional frameworks.

Industry Advisory Panel appoints a new Chair

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 11:21:55 +0100

On 3 March 2020 in Tirana, Albania, the International Energy Charter Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) met for its 43rd meeting. During the meeting, Mr Rafael Cayuela Valencia, Corporate Chief Economist of Dow Chemical, was presented as the company’s candidate for the position of the IAP Chair. Following a written procedure, the IAP established Mr Cayuela as the new Chair and as of 24 March 2020, he immediately takes up the post.

Energy Charter Secretariat Staff Manual

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 12:48:00 +0100

The Staff Regulations as approved by the Energy Charter Conference (hereinafter referred to as the “Conference”) set out the fundamental conditions of service, namely the duties and obligations as well as the basic rights of the officials constituting the staff of the Energy Charter Secretariat (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretariat”). They set forth the broad principles of staff policy; that policy is to enable officials wherever possible to pursue a career within the Energy Charter Secretariat. Nevertheless, no action shall be construed as, or have the effect of, granting employment for an indefinite period or constituting a permanent appointment. The Staff Rules promulgated by the Secretary-General and approved by the Conference implement the Staff Regulations. Energy Charter Secretariat Staff Manual

Belarus hosts consultations on the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 11:38:45 +0100

On 13 March, 2020, the Ministry of Energy of Belarus hosted consultations on the modernisation in the context of potential ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). The event gathered over 15 representatives from different ministries and governmental agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. The consultations started with a welcome speech delivered by Energy Charter Secretary General, Dr Urban Rusnák, and Director of Strategic Development and External Investment Cooperation at the Ministry of Energy, Mr Zorich.

Industry Advisory Panel meets in Albania

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 09:14:32 +0100

On 3 March 2020, the Energy Charter Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) held its 43rd Session in Tirana, Albania. The event was hosted by Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG and was attended by Panel members, representatives of energy companies, associations, international organisations, and diplomatic representatives.

The International Energy Charter attends EU-Central Asia working lunch

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:01:24 +0100

On 24 February 2020, Energy Charter Secretary General Dr Urban Rusnák took part in the EU-Central Asia working lunch. The event was held in Brussels and brought together the representatives of the European Union’s services such as the European External Action Service, DG Energy and DG Development and Cooperation and the Heads of Missions of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The topics of discussion focused on potential cooperation in the field of sustainable energy. The participants exchanged views on development and clean energy in the context of EU-Central Asia collaboration. The Commission informed on the work in progress on the new technical assistance project titled “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia” following the EU internal approval process.

The International Energy Charter strengthens ties with Benin

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 15:03:50 +0100

On 21 February 2020, Energy Charter Secretary General Dr Urban Rusnák visited the Embassy of the Republic of Benin in Brussels, upon the invitation from the Ambassador. Ambassador Zacharie Richard Akplogan welcomed the Secretary General to discuss the current collaboration between the Energy Charter Secretariat and the Government of Benin.