Afghanistan becomes 54th member of Energy Charter

Welcoming the Afghanistan's entry into the organization, Urban Rusnak, the general secretary of the Energy Charter said: "From now Afghanistan can take full benefits offered under the Energy Charter Treaty. The acquisition of a new member strengthens the position of our organization as a whole and contributes to the achievement of our important common goals".

As noted in the report released by the Energy Charter Treaty, the accession to the Treaty will allow Afghanistan to improve conditions for development of its energy sector. This step will also contribute to the broader goal to promote regional economic cooperation in Central and South Asia.

Afghanistan imports electricity from neighboring countries and is interested in further development of regional energy trade. The country could also become a transit country for natural gas exports from Central Asia to the growing markets of South Asia.

Entry into force of the Energy Charter Treaty in Afghanistan could be a turning point for energy security in South Asia. Afghanistan's accession treaty will strengthen confidence in the stability of the investment climate in the energy sector of the country and will contribute to energy transit and trade in Afghanistan and throughout the region.

Considering oil and gas reserves and hydroelectric potential of Central Asia and the rapidly growing demand for energy in India, Afghanistan offers the opportunity over time to become an energy hub for the entire region of South Asia. The Energy Charter is a coherent framework for such a process.

The Energy Charter Treaty is a legally binding multilateral agreement devoted to cross-border energy flows and international energy investments. Nowadays it brings together 54 members and 25 observers. The purpose of the treaty is to strengthen rule of law in the energy sector through the application of common rules for energy-exporting countries, importing and transit countries.

Kazakhstan became a member state of the Energy Charter in 1998. Each year the delegation from Kazakhstan participates in the sessions of the working groups of the Energy Charter Treaty considering the issues of cooperation between the member countries.