Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 14 March 2023, under the chairmanship of India, the third meeting of energy ministers of the SCO member states was held online.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Oil and Natural Gas of India Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan J. Mirzamakhmudov, Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan B. Akchulakov, Deputy Head of the State Energy Administration of China Ren Jingdong, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic M. Zhakypov, Minister of Energy of Pakistan Khurram Dastgir-Khan, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation N. Shulginov, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan Juma Daler, Deputy Secretary General of the SCO Khan Sohail.

The meeting began with an introductory speech by Khan Sohail, who noted that “The SCO member states include countries exporting and importing energy resources, as well as producing countries. At the same time, it was emphasized that the meeting of energy ministers of the region is becoming an important space for the exchange of ideas and coordination of actions to combat today’s energy problems.”

The meeting emphasized the importance and timely implementation of the program for the development of renewable energy sources adopted in the city of Samarkand, as well as the development of clean energy sources in 2022. The need to develop an appropriate infrastructure to ensure trade in energy resources and achieve energy security in the region, as well as the development of generation based on clean energy sources, was noted.

At the meeting, an exchange of views took place on issues of fuel and energy security. Despite the pandemic and some regional developments, the global economy is growing. During the meeting, it was decided to make full use of all opportunities, taking into account the transition of countries to a low-carbon economy, relying on all decisions in the field of energy.

Also at the meeting, the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan J. Mirzamakhmudov expressed his proposals on the state and prospects for changes in the global and regional energy agenda. The SCO is one of the most important platforms for cooperation aimed at analyzing and solving global and regional issues in all areas, including energy security, and spoke about the work done in the energy sector of Uzbekistan, the widespread introduction of renewable energy sources and other innovations.

Following the meeting, the ministers approved the Joint Statement on Cooperation between the SCO Member States on New Fuels and Energy Modeling.

An agreement was reached to hold the next meeting of the Ministers of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2024.