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

The 6th meeting of the Regional Task Force on Electricity Cooperation in Central and South Asia took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 9 July 2010. The meeting was organised by the Energy Charter Secretariat together with the Government of Mongolia and with financial support from the Government of Norway.

In his opening remarks the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Mongolia Mr. Zorigt welcomed the delegates and underlined the importance of the Energy Charter for Mongolia and its role in promoting regional energy trade. Minister Zorigt outlined the latest trends in Mongolia's energy and mining sectors and emphasised the importance of developing Mongolia's large coal deposits.

Ambassador André Mernier, the Energy Charter Secretary General, highlighted the importance of the Energy Charter Process in promoting regional cooperation based on the principles of the Energy Charter and welcomed the new wider format of the Task Force on Regional Energy Cooperation.

The Task Force meeting in Ulaanbaatar gathered the delegations from Afghanistan, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and discussion topics included the latest developments in electricity and coal sectors of the participating countries. Delegates and invited experts shared their countries' experiences and discussed the best practice examples in the coal industry worldwide.

At the meeting, the delegates agreed a joint declaration, containing the recommendation to develop a framework for sustainable and secure regional trade based on the principles of the Energy Charter. Delegates proposed altering the topics for future discussions and varying the geographic scope of the Task Force to enhance the possibilities for broader regional coverage for potential energy cooperation. Delegations recognised the need for the Energy Charter Conference to elaborate a road map for the development of model investment agreements for investing in energy sectors, based on the principles of the Energy Charter.


Presentations 


Welcome speeches and opening remarks

Welcome Address

Mr. Zorigt Dashdorj, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy of Mongolia

Opening Remarks

Amb. André Mernier, Secretary General, Energy Charter Secretariat

Introduction to the workshop

Ms. Thea Khitarishvili, Senior Expert, Directorate for Trade and Transit, Energy Charter Secretariat


Session 1: Participating country presentations

Chaired by Mr. Tserenpurev T., Director General of the Department for Energy Policy, Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mongolia

Afghanistan
H.E. Ghulam Faruq Qazizadah, Deputy Minister of Energy, Ministry of Energy and Water of Afghanistan

China
Mr. Shixian Gao, Assistant Director General, Research Professor, Division Director for International Energy Cooperation, Energy Research Institute, National Development and Reform Commission of China

Kazakhstan (in Russian)
Mr. Julius Tuleubaev, Chief Expert, Department of Electricity and Coal Industry Development, Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan (in Russian)
Mr. Avtandil Kalmambetov, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy and Fuel Resources of the Kyrgyz Republic

Korea
Dr. Keun Dae Lee, Korea Energy Economics Institute, Republic of Korea

Mongolia
Mr. A. Erdenepurev, Director General, Department for Fuel Policy, Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mongolia

Tajikistan (in Russian)
Mr. Akram Sulaimonov, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy and Industry of Tajikistan

Uzbekistan (in Russian)
Mr. Abduhamid Juraev, Head of Economic and Forecast Department, Uzbekistan State Joint Stock Company Uzbekenergo
Mr. Shukhrat Khamidov, Central Asian Regional Coordinative Dispatching Centre "Energia", Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Discussion


Session 2: Multilateral cooperation and best practices

Chaired by Mr. Dario Chello, Director for Energy Efficiency and Investment, Energy Charter Secretariat

International Coal Pricing
Mr. Miharu Kanai, Senior Expert, Energy Charter Secretariat

Multilateral Cooperation and Best Practices Scenario: the Role of Technology towards the Resolution of Energy and Environmental Issues in Asia
Mr. Yuji Takagi, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan

Mongolia's Coal Sector
Mr. Tserenpurev T., Director General, Department for Energy Policy, Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mongolia

Coal-Based Thermal Power Generation in India: Prospects and Challenges
Mr. Durga N. Raina, CEO ENTECSOL International, New Delhi, India

Preliminary Findings on the Mongolian In-depth Energy Efficiency Review
Mr. Jean-Christophe Füeg, Head International Energy Affairs, Swiss Federal Office for Energy Team Leader of the Mongolian in-depth energy efficiency peer review team

Discussion


Way forward and concluding remarks