From October 16 to 17, Ashgabat is hosting the International Meeting of Experts on Enhancing Energy Connectivity under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. The meeting is being held in a hybrid format.

The focus of the experts is to discuss the critical need for stable and efficient energy connectivity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal that provides affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, reports “Turkmenistan: Golden Age”.

The meeting was given impetus by UN General Assembly resolution 78/149, which recognizes the key role of energy connectivity in achieving sustainable development.

The plenary session was held today. The first thematic session, “Regional Integration and Cooperation: Lessons from the ESCAP Regional Roadmap on Energy Systems Connectivity”, will feature interactive panel discussions on regional energy cooperation initiatives, best practices and challenges.

Parallel workshops will cover topics such as cross-border infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks and clean energy integration.

A special event by the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism is scheduled for October 17: the launch of the Technical Guidance on Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection.

There will also be a second thematic session, “Diversification and Security of Energy Sources: Exploring Strategies for Diversifying Energy Sources, Improving Energy Security and Mitigating Climate Change”. The session will focus on lessons learned from the UNECE Energy Nexus Project in Central Asia.

The panel discussion will focus on investment and financing for energy connectivity. Experts will focus on exploring innovative financing mechanisms and attracting private sector investment, the source said.