The role of the Energy Charter Secretariat is to, primarily, provide the Energy Charter Conference with all necessary assistance for the performance of its duties and carry out the functions assigned to it in the Energy Charter Treaty or in any Protocol and any other functions assigned to it by the Charter Conference. The Secretariat is thus responsible to and reports to the Charter Conference.
The Secretary-General is the main representative of the Secretariat who is appointed by the Energy Charter Conference for a maximum period of five years on a first appointment.