OREANDA-NEWS. August 02, 2010. The two-day workshop focusing on the ways to enhance the legal ad institutional frameworks for energy efficiency closed in the Turkmen capital. The forum organized in the framework of the joint project of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Turkmenistan and the British Embassy brought together the representatives of the Mejlis, the specialists of the Ministry of Oil and Gas Industry and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Ministry of Energy ad Industry, the Turkmengaz State Concern and the Turkmennebit State Concern, the Sun Institute of Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and the international experts and consultants from the UK and other European countries.

The forum agenda was dedicated to the approaches to building the capacity and mechanisms for enhancing energy efficiency, producing alternative energy and developing the action programme and the options for strategies and laws in this field. The forum participants discussed the possibilities for expanding cooperation in such a critical field as achievement of sustainable energy use.

In his opening remarks UK Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkmenistan Keith Rennie Allan noted that the issues put on the forum agenda were of particular interest to not only Turkmenistan and Europe but also the whole world, as energy efficiency contributed to the progress of the international community.

Emphasizing that Turkmenistan as the energy-rich country had the profound potential for conserving energy and enhancing energy efficiency, the British diplomat evaluated highly President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s initiatives on effective energy management that was a priority aspect of the national development strategy.

In this regard, Keith Alan said that Turkmenistan could serve as a model, an example for the Central Asian region for addressing the challenges of effective use of various sources of energy. For paramount attention given in the country to enhancing and intensifying energy use, the projects that used the environmentally friendly solar and wind energy were deemed quite promising.

The United Kingdom that actively contributed to the global energy efficiency initiatives and use of alternative energy had been cooperating with Turkmenistan in this field for many years. The countries signed the protocol of intent in the energy sector and maintained the fruitful dialogue on concerted efforts in the energy sector.

The forum participants expressed belief that the joint efforts of Turkmen specialists and international experts would enable to develop the comprehensive programme for more efficient use of energy that n its turn would let Turkmenistan be in the lead on energy efficiency and use of various sources of energy.

Addressing the forum Lenni Montiel, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan said that one of the key climate change catalysts was a dramatically active role of the fuel and energy sector in many countries. Therefore, the appeals for efficient and rational use of energy sources and resources were heard more often today. This goal could be achieved only through enabling the relevant laws and strategies regulating and encouraging energy-conserving technologies and, what was more important, through inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral coordination on sustainable and rational use of energy.

The forum participants noted that updating the national legislation in the fuel and energy sector in particular was a key priority of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s policy that was emphasized on in the Turkmen leader’s keynote speeches and the strategy for social and economic development of Turkmenistan for the period till 2030.

This workshop became a new stage of Turkmenistan-UNDP cooperation on further modernization of the regulatory framework for energy efficiency. Collaboration between international experts and Turkmen specialists would enable to make an assessment of the current situation on energy conversion efficienc and identify the options for strategies and laws on sustainable and rational use of energy through conducting consultations and surveys and exchanging experiences with developed countries.

The dialogue on the development and implementation of the projects in the framework of the Carbon Fund established under the Kyoto Protocol that allowed receiving profit from introduction of energy efficient technologies was maintained under the programme of the UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan.

Based on the fact that Turkmenistan has the profound potential for developing the fuel and energy sector and intends to substantially increase natural gas production the carbon projects are of particular interest to our country. According to experts, the transfer of one power station in Ashgabat from gas turbine cycle to combined cycle will bring profit of USD 72 million that will cover the expenses for modernization within 2,5 years. This is another powerful argument for updating energy efficiency laws that will provide the additional opportunities for attracting flows of funds to the national economy.

Also, the UNDP programme provides for cooperation on the development of alternative and renewable energy sources, in particular wind and solar energy. The Gun Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan has designed advanced development projects in this field.

Summing up the workshop the participants noted that coordination among various departments inside the country as well as cooperation on energy efficiency at an international level would enable to make greater progress in our country that set an example of energy conversion efficiency for the Central Asian region.