OSCE Office supports discussion on draft law on alternative and renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan

BAKU, 1 December 2011 – A roundtable discussion on the draft law on alternative and renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan for policymakers starts today in Baku. The event is organized by the OSCE Office in Baku and the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources, in co-ordination with the Energy Reform Support Programme of the European Union in Azerbaijan. The event is aimed at  supporting the Azerbaijani government’s efforts in promoting the large-scale application of renewable energies.

“The overall policy of the OSCE is to facilitate a dialogue of stakeholders on energy issues and to strengthen energy security,” Ambassador Koray Targay, the Head of the OSCE Office in Baku, said in his opening speech. “The development of renewable energy sources is an important contribution to reducing negative impacts on the environment and on public health.”

During the event the participants will discuss what makes laws on renewable energy sources successful, analyse the current draft law on renewable energy sources for Azerbaijan and review the recommendations to improve it. 

Since 2009, the OSCE Office in Baku has been implementing a project to raise the awareness and capacities of the stakeholders involved in the renewable energy field. The project has provided technical assistance for policymakers to prepare a comprehensive draft law based on international best practices.