15.01.2010
Head of the NSB participated in the energy conference in Batumi
On Thursday, 14th January, Head of the National Security Bureau, Minister Aleksander Sczyglo participated in the energy conference in Batumi, Georgia.
During the meeting representatives of 11 states and representative of the European Union have accepted Joint Statement supporting the initiative aimed at building Southern Corridor to transport energy carriers from the Caspian Sea region to Europe, including transportation of Caspian oil through Georgia to Europe using Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk pipeline.
The conference was devoted mainly to the strategic project – Euro-Asian Oil Transportation Corridor (EAOTC), part of which is Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk pipeline, dedicated to enhancing energy security among others of Poland.
Conference participants discussed also other routes of energy carriers transportation, i.e. Nabucco pipeline and White Stream pipeline, as well as current situation in energy sector in Central and Eastern Europe.
Meeting included presenting details of the project dedicated to transportation of oil from Odessa to Plock and Gdansk. Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk pipeline will contribute to diversification of oil supplies to Poland and Central Europe, thereby it will enhance European energy security.
Energy conference was an important step in the talks, because the representatives of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan participating in the conference took part in accepting Joint Statement. The preamble of the documents includes the following statement: “Welcoming the positive outcome of the Feasibility Study for the Euro-Asia Oil Transportation Corridor Project (EAOTC: Baku-Georgian Black Sea Ports-Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk) conducted by the International Pipeline Company “Sarmatia” LLC together with the decision of Poland to allocate funding from the EU Infrastructure and Environment Programme for the oil pipeline connection between Ukraine and Poland.”
Meeting included presenting details of the project dedicated to transportation of oil from Odessa to Plock and Gdansk. Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk pipeline will contribute to diversification of oil supplies to Poland and Central Europe, thereby it will enhance European energy security.
Energy conference was an important step in the talks, because the representatives of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan participating in the conference took part in accepting Joint Statement. The preamble of the documents includes the following statement: “Welcoming the positive outcome of the Feasibility Study for the Euro-Asia Oil Transportation Corridor Project (EAOTC: Baku-Georgian Black Sea Ports-Odessa-Brody-Plock-Gdansk) conducted by the International Pipeline Company “Sarmatia” LLC together with the decision of Poland to allocate funding from the EU Infrastructure and Environment Programme for the oil pipeline connection between Ukraine and Poland.”
Currently the Odessa-Brody pipeline transports the Russian oil in the opposite direction – from Brody in western Ukraine to Odessa area. The announced by the Ukrainians turn of transportation direction and plans to extend the pipeline from Brody to Adamow in Poland, will enable to send Caspian oil to Gdansk and German refinery.
The Energy Conference was attended by representatives of presidential chancelleries, governments and energy companies from Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Belarus and Romania. The representative of the European Union participated in the talks.
Polish delegation, apart from the Head of the National Security Bureau included the Ambassador of Poland to Georgia, Ms. Urszula Doroszewska, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Pawel Wojciechowski, advisor in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Piotr Wozniak, and advisor to the Head of the National Security Bureau, Mr. Piotr Naimski.
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The following is a part of the statement accepted during the conference:
- To emphasize the strategic importance of the Southern Corridor Initiative.
- To maintain close cooperation on strengthening sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the States of the region with the goal of ensuring security of supply, stability and sustainability of the Participant countries and wider Europe.
- To unite efforts towards the strengthening of mutual energy cooperation and develop the Participants’ strategic energy partnership based on the Energy Charter Treaty, embracing the principles of transparency and predictability, environmental protection, non-discrimination, market economy and commercial profitability, taking into account the energy security of producer, transit and consumer countries, to promote mutual confidence necessary for successful implementation of the Southern Corridor.
- To intensify guidance and coordination on the advancement of ongoing and prospective energy transportation initiatives within the scope of the Southern Corridor, considering the transportation of hydrocarbons form the Caspian Region to international markets, including the development of Trans-Caspian and Trans-Black Sea Links among the Parties of the Joint Statement, with the aim of their rapid and effective integration in the existing framework of regional economic activity and cooperation.
- To coordinate and strengthen the Participants’ efforts for the practical implementation of the Gas Transportation Projects aimed at diversification of markets as well as sources, routes and suppliers as priority projects of the Southern Corridor initiative.
- To welcome an intention of EAOTC countries on further implementation of EAOTC project through development by “Sarmatia” LLC together with relevant authorities of EAOTC countries before the next Energy Summit of an Action Plan aimed at the creation of appropriate supportive measures necessary of its effective, timely and efficient realization including the assignment of the status of the priority project of European interests. The EAOTC participants consider it expedient to entrust “Sarmatia” LLC to conduct negotiations with the potential suppliers and consumers of crude oil.
- To note joint projects within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, which would contribute to the swift and effective completion of the EAOTC and all other projects within the Southern Corridor.
- To provide the mechanisms of cooperation related to energy emergency responses, safeguarding and development of critical energy infrastructure to ensure reliable transit and enhance energy security of all Parties involved.
- To make common efforts to use the financial support from the European Economic Recovery Plan, as well as pursue other new and existing financial instruments.
- To strengthen Trans-Atlantic energy cooperation with an aim to implementing the Southern Corridor Initiative.
- To undertake common efforts in addressing the global challenges related to energy security and environemental protection policies, by diversifying energy supply sources, routes and suppliers, including the development of the Southern Corridor, promoting renewable and other environmentally friendly energy, increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The statement accepted during the energy conference in Batumi.