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Fourth Task Force meeting on regional electricity cooperation in Central and South Asia

The Regional Task Force on Electricity Cooperation in Central and South Asia held its 4th meeting on 21 April 2009 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, bringing state representatives from the region together for the fourth time to consider the issue of electricity cooperation. The meeting in Almaty was organised by the Energy Charter Secretariat together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company KEGOC, with financial support from the Government of Norway.

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Amb. André Mernier, the Energy Charter Secretary General, underlined the importance of the Energy Charter Process as a means to promote regional cooperation through dialogue based on the broadly accepted principles of the Energy Charter and supported by international law. The Managing Director of KEGOC, Mr. Sergey Katyshev welcomed the delegates. He acknowledged the important role which the Energy Charter can play in facilitating regional energy trade and provided workshop participants with an overview of recent developments in Kazakhstan.

At the meeting, the representatives of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan agreed a joint declaration. This document contains the recommendation to develop a framework for sustainable and secure regional power trade based on the principles of the Energy Charter. Delegates and invited experts shared their experience and successful examples of regional electricity cooperation and exchanged information on the latest developments in the electricity field in the Central and South Asian region. The Model Electricity Agreements developed by the Secretariat were also discussed. Workshop participants recommended to further elaboration of the operational agreements. The Task Force plans to have its next meeting in the region later in the autumn of 2009.


Programme and Presentations


Welcome speeches and opening remarks

Mr. Sergey Katyshev
Managing Director of the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company KEGOC, Kazakhstan

Ambassador André Mernier
Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat


Introduction to the Workshop

Mr. Ralf Dickel
Director for Trade and Transit, Energy Charter Secretariat


Session one: Cross-border electricity markets

A Regional Electricity Market - the Nordic Experience
Mr. Kåre Rudsar, Vice-President, Nord Pool Consulting AS

Legal Framework of Parallel Operation of CIS Eclectic Power Systems and Common CIS Electricity Market (in Russian)
by Mr. Vladimir Volosski, Director, Department of External Relations, CIS Electric Power Council

Current State of Energy Infrastructure Development and Future Cooperation Prospects in South
by Mr. Durga N. Raina, President, ENTECSOL International

Central Asia South Asia 1000 Mg (CASA 1000) - Project Update
by Mr. Qazi Naeem-ud-Din, Executive Director, Intergovernmental Committee Secretariat in Kabul, Afghanistan

Creation of a Common Power Market in Central Asia
by Mr. Michael Trainor, Senior Energy Policy Specialist, USAID Almaty, Kazakhstan


Session two: Model Agreements for cross-border electricity projects

Model Agreements for Cross-Border Electricity Projects
by Mr Philippe Gurd Gross, Legal Assistant, Energy Charter Secretariat, and
by Mr Alberto Pototschnig, Partner, Mercados Energy Markets International


Session three: Participating country presentations

Afghanistan (Slides | Speech)
by H.E. Ahmad Wali Shairzay, Deputy Minister of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Water, Kabul, Afghanistan

Kazakhstan
by Mr. Sergey Katyshev, Managing Director of the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company KEGOC, Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan (in Russian)
by Mr. Akylbek R. Tyumenbaev, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy, Industry and Fuel Resources, Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan (in Russian)
by Mr. Abdullo Kurbonov, Head of Department of Electric Power Industry, Ministry of Energy and Industry, Tajikistan

Uzbekistan (in Russian)
by Mr. Eso Sadullaev, Head of Dispatch Department, State Joint Stock Company Uzbekenergo, Uzbekistan

Programme of Prospective Development and Energy Sector Modernisation (in Russian)
by Mr Khamidulla Shamsiev, Director, Dispatching Centre "Energy", Uzbekistan

Panel discussion

Chaired by Mr Ralf Dickel, Director for Trade and Transit, Energy Charter Secretariat


Way forward and concluding remarks