U. Rusnak: “Energy Charter will create legal frameworks for interregional cooperation”

Dushanbe, July 26. (NIAT “Khovar”).-

The 8th meeting of target group on regional energy cooperation in Central and South Asia has been held on 20th of July in Dushanbe. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Energy and Industry of RT jointly with the Energy Charter Secretariat. The Energy Charter Secretary General Urban Rusnak answered to a number of questions at the interview with NIAT “Khovar” correspondent.

- What issues have been discussed during the meeting of target group?

- At the regular meeting a substantial discussion was conducted on issues of regional cooperation in Central and South Asia on particular areas of electricity power system. The reports which were heard are interesting, informative and they deserve attention. They show a very simple fact that the countries which work out a major part of energy from water resources, experience technical difficulty to ensure themselves an integral work of energy system all the year round, because there are seasonal changes in supplies through technological processes. It is natural that these problems can be addressed only together in cooperation with other countries. But for this cause the international cooperation is necessary. We need to reconstruct such technical conditions that the electricity power could be sold, could be delivered by transit to other countries, third countries, which need it, because the clean energy which is produced by the hydro potential is very valuable and it is possible to use it in full extent only when it works in a more balanced system or when it enters the third markets. And we heard today the reports which showed that that system, which was founded in Central Asia decades ago, still in Soviet period, is gradually being destroyed. And now the proposals are being made to link countries of Central Asia with the South of Asia, realize regional projects, such as CASA-1000, which is in the planning process. We are just in the period when the risks are very high, that that system which existed will be finally disintegrated, the countries will withdraw into their shells, because CASA-1000 is still just a project, it is being prepared, all support it, but the construction has not been launched yet. We know that such energy constructions as a rule have duration of several years. Therefore, in order for us not to be involved to such period, which will more worsen our today’s problems, which exist today in Tajikistan and in neighboring states; we have held our regular meeting in Dushanbe, invited colleagues from different countries to find solutions to these problems. As a result of our meeting the Declaration will be adopted, in which the areas will be reflected and all recommendations of Energy Charter aimed at the construction of regional solution will be taken into consideration, because no country of the region is able to solve these problems in its own, as a result of which all will suffer.

- On which areas does the Energy Charter cooperate with Tajikistan?

- It should be noted that the Energy Charter is an international legal base which promotes international energy cooperation. The Energy Charter Secretariat cooperates with Tajikistan on the areas which do not have investment character, as the Energy Charter does not deal with financing. With Tajikistan we conduct work on several main directions. The first area concerns the conduct of a correct policy, namely how to define the correct policy in the sphere of protection and support of investment climate. We have held a deep survey previous year for Tajikistan, regarding the investment climate, and the next year, the Energy Charter Secretariat will be conducting a deep research of energy efficiency of Tajikistan. As we know that in Tajikistan the problem of electricity power and other heat source deficiency exists, how it will be better to adjust those legal and other bases existing in Tajikistan so that they facilitate energy supply of adjacent technologies. Moreover, they will favor the reduction of emission of carbon dioxide, because if it concerns global standards, the level of emission of carbon dioxide in Central Asia is the highest in the world. That’s why we have already a concrete pilot project, through which we plan to help people living in Tajikistan, in particular in settlement Somoniyon of Rudaki district, we will conduct an analysis of solution of concrete issues and partly financing on enhancing energy efficiency at the local level. Because at the level of Government the solutions and programs are being adopted, and we are just focused on that how these programs are realized, how they reach the final consumer. This area, as the President Emomali Rahmon himself has noted, is particularly full of perspectives. Besides it, we works with the Tajik authorities on enhancement of qualifications of experts which deal with energy issues, we invites them for internship to Energy Charter Secretariat, at our expense, so that Tajik experts learn those modern standards, those forms of cooperation which today will help us share that best European world experience in this area. I can say that those conclusions, which the Tajik experts propose in energy sphere, are very competent. It is necessary to teach the experts to such understanding as energy diplomacy, so as to correctly build international relations. These are the main areas of activities of Energy Charter in Tajikistan.

- Which are the guarantees that the Energy Charter member countries will consider those recommendations which have been worked out today on transport corridors for entrance into energy markets?

- Nobody will provide you as such strict guarantees in our modern world. I will be frank; we create the preconditions and attract attention, showing what is necessary to do concretely. The Energy Charter has no direct conditions, so that we make follow our recommendations. Of course, there is a whole arsenal of international, diplomatic approaches, influence to those countries, so that they behave reasonably, so that they build and create favorable conditions for development of transit energy relations and do not destroy them. I think that among the member countries of the Energy Charter process the most leading and important partner countries of this region should help each other, facilitate the revival of lost ties, cooperation of countries of Central Asian region, in particular Tajikistan, in ensuring electricity power.

- What real results have been achieved by the Energy Charter for 8 years of cooperation?

- I suppose that over 8 years of work an understanding has been created that the solution of global energy issues is impossible without international cooperation. This is shown today by the regional project CASA-1000, that if the cooperation within Central Asia is not developed, then the countries will seek their ways out and the system will be reformatted into the regional, will be gradually destroying. And the fact that the Energy Charter has invited Afghanistan and Pakistan to join it, it means that we understand the interaction and cooperation of neighboring countries. For us it is important that the countries work for their benefit and find common language. The Energy Charter was created in the beginning of 1990s as a bridge, linking the regions on solution of main interregional energy issues. Today we work with Northern Africa, Japan, Mongolia, and other countries, because the Energy Charter creates legal frameworks, the margin for cooperation, for settlement of some complicated issues in the framework of international law.