Prospects of Kazakhstan-Energy Charter Cooperation discussed in Brussels  

Brussels, May 20, 2021 – The head of the Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the European Union, Mr. Margulan Baimukhan, met with the Secretary General of the Energy Charter, Dr. Urban Rusnák.

During the meeting, Mr. Baimukhan and Dr. Rusnák discussed the current state and promising areas of Kazakhstan-Energy Charter cooperation in the field of energy efficiency, trade and transit of energy resources, investment protection and climate change.

Ambassador Baimukhan informed the head of the Energy Charter about the key measures of the Government of Kazakhstan to keep sustainable growth of the national economy, including the implementation of state programs on industrial-innovative, infrastructural and digital development of Kazakhstan until 2025.

Special attention of two diplomats was devoted to the promotion of Kazakhstani initiatives and proposals on the modernization of the Energy Charter Treaty, as well as the participation of Kazakh high-level delegations in the International Energy Charter Forum and the 32nd Ministerial Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference, to be held in June and December 2021 under the chairmanship of the Republic of Armenia.

On his part, the Secretary General of the Energy Charter gave a positive assessment to the initiatives of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the decarbonisation of Kazakhstan’s economy and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. As was noted, Kazakhstan plays an important role in the activities of the Energy Charter and makes a significant contribution to strengthening global energy security.

 

Background: Since December 17, 1991, Kazakhstan is a member of the European Energy Charter. The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) was signed and ratified by the Decree of the President of Kazakhstan on October 18, 1995. Kazakhstan is the first country to chair the Energy Charter Conference in 2014. During the chairmanship, Kazakhstan proposed to promote investments in the energy sector; enhance discussion of transit and trade issues; improve the dispute resolution mechanism, and modernize the Energy Charter Treaty. The most important points are reflected in the Astana Declaration of the Energy Charter Process.