Setting up an independent energy regulator in Azerbaijan - perspectives, concerns and overall planning

Objective

Setting up a regulatory authority for energy is a fundamental factor for the successful implementation of the set of strategic tasks, approved by the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan on July 23, 2015, aiming to introduce market-based relations in the electricity and natural gas sectors, with a view to attracting private investments and increasing economic benefits for the whole economy.

INOGATE assists the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in best preparing the necessary background and designing the road map for the setup of a national regulatory authority for energy, in the context of implementation of its strategy for the effective development of the country's energy sector based on competitive market principles.

Within this context, a team of INOGATE experts, organized on 09 March 2016 in Baku, the Workshop “Perspectives, concerns and overall planning for the setup of an independent energy regulator in Azerbaijan”.  

During the workshop, which was attended by various governmental and market participant officials, the current conditions and commercial interrelations regarding operation of the energy sector of Azerbaijan were  presented  alongside the Government plans and programmes for development of the electricity and natural gas sectors and envisaged reforms of the sectors towards their restructuring and liberalization.  

The team also presented the experience of the European Union and Energy Community member states on the establishment of independent energy regulatory authorities, including analysis of regulator functions and duties with respect to current practices in Azerbaijan. The main focus of the workshop was on the specification of the concept of an independent energy market regulator in Azerbaijan, and the identification of the energy market legislative and structural reforms required in view of setting it up.  This discussion led to the preparation of the concept note and road map for setting up the energy regulator, which are now being reviewed internally by the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

More information on this activity can be found at “Preparation of a concept note and a road map for the setup of an independent energy regulator, towards the development of the country's energy market (CWP.01.AZ)”.