News

The 12th Annual CIS Oil and Gas Summit took place this year on 14-16 May in Paris. Over 300 participants from the industry sector and governments from all over the world gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities standing before the oil and gas sectors of Russia, Ukraine, countries of the Caspian region and Central Asia. One of the key issues on the agenda was the effect of the current economic downturn and new energy policies on the oil and gas investment potential in the region.

ECS Secretary General Urban Rusnák spoke in the session dedicated to ‘Markets, Transportation and Pipelines' and the impact of geopolitics on the formation of export projects. He pointed out that the Energy Charter Treaty had been, and continued to be, of immense benefit to the energy producing countries of the CIS region, in that the Treaty had greatly facilitated the necessary investment to allow for the successful development of these countries' vast energy resources.

While in Paris, Amb. Rusnák also held meetings with the French authorities and the senior management of Total, OECD and the IEA. The modernisation of the Energy Charter Process and the ongoing ECT membership consolidation efforts were the main topics of discussion with Mr. Philippe Meunier and Mr. Nicolas Ruiz at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. During his meeting with Mr. Pierre Olinger of Total's International Public Affairs department, Amb. Rusnák raised the issue of the company's interest in the Energy Charter activities and the possibility of Total joining the Energy Charter Industry Advisory Panel.

At the OECD, Amb. Rusnák met with Deputy Secretary General Amb. Richard Boucher, Head of the Investment Division Mr. Wesley Scholz, Senior Economist Ms. Katie Gordon and Senior Legal Consultant Mr. David Gaukrodger.

Secretary General Rusnák also met with the new Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Ms. Maria van der Hoeven. The discussion focused on the successful and productive cooperation between the two organisations over many years. Amb. Rusnák suggested that enhancing this cooperation further could be mutually beneficial for the IEA and the Charter.

  

  Share on Facebook


>> back...