SYMPOSIUM ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY IN BAKU
The symposium, which brought together the working groups of over 10 countries, representatives of the foreign embassies, international organizations, financial institutions, local and foreign companies, businessmen as well as officials of the appropriate ministries and committees began with opening remarks by Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy. Speaking of the progress achieved as a result of the implementation of the oil strategy launched since the signing of the Contract of the Century initiated by the creator of the independent state of Azerbaijan, national leader Heydar Aliyev, the Minister pointed to practical evidences that the project serves improvement of our people’s welfare and strengthening of our statehood, opens wide opportunities for republic’s integration into the global civil society, and makes exceptional contributions to maintenance of peace and stability, and development of economic cooperation in the region. Minister noted that 120 transnational and regional projects are being implemented in the country and Azerbaijan is among the world’s leaders in per capita investment inflow and GDP growth rate. According to Natig Aliyev, these achievements are the result of the national leader’s far-sighted policy and his political course successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev.
Minister stressed an importance of cooperation with international organizations and noted that the symposium will have a positive impact on the energy relations among the Caspian littoral states.
Joanne Disano, director of the Division for Sustainable Development, and Javad Amin-Mansour, vice-chair of the bureau for the fourteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, greeted the symposium participants and stressed the importance of holding the event in energy-rich Azerbaijan. The speakers noted that the event plays a key role in establishing a single Eurasian energy system and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and South Caucasus gas pipeline to be put into operation this year will lead to a new strategic situation in the region.
The discussions at the three-day symposium will revolve around protection and efficient utilization of the energy resources for improvement of the peoples’ welfare and other issues of mutual interest. The event participants will hear the reports on the new energy initiatives and accomplishments Caspian States achieved in this field. The symposium will review what has been done since the previous meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and adopt a Baku declaration.
The first session of the symposium entitled “Energy Supply System Efficiency. Initiatives and Accomplishments in the Caspian Sea Region” was attended by representatives of Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia and other countries. They delivered reports on application of the economically viable and environmentally friendly technologies in the oil and gas production, modernization and management of the heating and power stations, role and efficiency of the hydroelectric power station in generating electricity, safety in electricity transmission and distribution system, potential and increase in competitiveness and export, initiatives and energy efficiency achievements in some countries.
The symposium is underway.
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