On signing the Charter of the Clean Energy Center
Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated July 3, 2025 No. 930
In accordance with subparagraph 1) of Article 8 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On International Treaties of the Republic of Kazakhstan", I HEREBY DECREE:
1. To authorize Yerlan Kudaibergenovich Akkenzhenov, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to sign the Charter of the Clean Energy Center on behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. This Decree shall enter into force from the date of its signing.
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
K. Tokaev
Unofficial translation
Charter of the Clean Energy Center
The preamble
Member States of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO):
Realizing the essential need to address issues of energy security, access to energy for production purposes, and climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Member States of the Economic Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the "Member States");
Emphasizing this, ECO strives to create a diverse and sustainable energy architecture in the region by integrating the transition to sustainable energy into its overall energy agenda and the transition to environmentally friendly energy sources.;
Realizing that an urgent transition to a low-carbon, highly energy-efficient economy is desirable and of strategic importance for the Member States in order to maximize benefits, and will require the creation of a special regional organization created, regulated, managed and controlled by the Member States, thereby functioning with its own interests and objectives, as well as with its main purpose;
Considering that the transition to renewable, as well as cleaner and more sustainable energy sources is the expected outcome of the V Energy Sector in ECO Vision 2025, with the aim of unlocking enormous opportunities for cooperation in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the ECO region and creating an enabling environment for reliable sustainable energy, markets and investments;
Considering the decisions of the 23rd, 24th and 25th meetings of the ECO Council of Ministers, which supported initiatives to introduce environmentally friendly energy sources in the region;
Recalling the conclusions of the 13th, 14th and 15th ECO Summits, which supported the coordination of measures in the field of sustainable growth, including, inter alia, the use of environmentally friendly renewable energy sources, conservation and efficient use of water and energy resources;
We have agreed on the following:
Article I
Creation of an Environmentally Friendly Energy Center
The Clean Energy Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, is hereby established.
Article II
Goals
1. The Center promotes energy efficiency, and the development of renewable energy sources also expands the capabilities of national institutions of the ECO member States.
2. The Center will provide support in addressing issues related to sustainable energy and mobilize financial and technical resources to facilitate the implementation of low-carbon project activities in the ECO region.
Article III
Functions
1. The Center will facilitate coordination and cooperation between relevant institutions of the ECO member States aimed at strengthening regional capacities in the field of sustainable energy and energy efficiency.
2. The Center will develop and implement regional projects and provide technical assistance in areas related to sustainable energy development.
3. The Center should ensure effective coordination between regional and international institutions responsible for energy and climate change; promote investment in projects and raise awareness among key stakeholders.
4. The Center will jointly collect, analyze, store and disseminate energy statistics and information on renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency (EE).
5. The Center will contribute to the accumulation of knowledge on key global issues of sustainable energy.
6. The Center provides support to the Contracting Parties in their access to international financial and technical resources; provides, upon request, assistance to the Contracting Parties in conducting educational campaigns on the development of low-carbon energy at the national and regional levels; initiates and coordinates the development of regional research and development programs and training in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Article IV
The structure of the Center
1. The Board of Governors
The Center has a Board of Governors, which includes energy ministers or officials of the same rank from the member States, the ECO Secretary General and the Executive Director of the Center.
The Board of Governors is the main body responsible for policy and decision-making at the Center, which will also provide strategic guidance to achieve the goals.
The Board of Governors meets annually in the territories of the Member States in turn. Relevant representatives of the private sector, one from each Contracting Party, may attend the meeting as observers.
2. The Executive Board
The Executive Board of the Center includes:
(a) Representatives of the Contracting Parties;
b) The ECO Secretary General or his representative;
c) The Executive Director of the Center.
The Executive Board implements the decisions taken by the Board of Governors. The main tasks will include, inter alia, reviewing the annual work programmes and budget, reports and financial statements of the Center; initiating or identifying projects, if necessary; encouraging the development of appropriate integrated strategies; recommending a candidate for the position of Executive Director; appointing and, if necessary, changing the composition of the Technical Committee; proposing the definition of an institution and network Thematic hubs. The Management Board meets for regular meetings twice a year, and for extraordinary meetings as often as the Management Board deems it necessary.
Relevant representatives of the private sector, one from each Contracting Party, may attend the meeting as observers.
3. The Secretariat
(a) The Center should have a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director;
(b) The Board of Governors appoints the Executive Director and adopts the Staff Regulations, which set out the powers and responsibilities of the Executive Director and staff;
(c) Appointments to positions in the Secretariat, with the exception of the Executive Director, are made through secondment by the Contracting Parties.
The Executive Director of the Center is appointed from among the prominent technocrats of the Contracting Parties in the field of sustainable energy development, covering renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, and is appointed by the Board of Governors for a three-year term.
The Executive Director of the Center is responsible for the implementation of the general policies and decisions of the Board of Governors and the Executive Board, as well as for the implementation of approved programs of the Center. The Executive Director is the Secretary of the Board of Governors, who will also chair the Technical Committee. The Executive Board is headed by a representative of the Contracting Party, who is the Chairman of the Board of Governors.
4. Technical Committee
The Technical Committee is responsible for providing technical recommendations to the Executive Board and advising the Secretariat on the work of the Center; analyzing and making recommendations on technical documents; monitoring progress in the work of the Center.
The Technical Committee consists of experts and scientists in the field of sustainable energy development with a focus on clean energy and energy efficiency.
Each Contracting Party appoints one representative to the Technical Committee for a period of three years. In addition, partner organizations and designated representatives of the private sector, the ECO Secretariat should be represented on the Technical Committee.
The Technical Committee must meet at least twice a year with the participation of at least 2/3 of the members and be headed by the Executive Director. The Center's secretariat should provide support to the Technical Committee.
Article V
Theme hubs
The Center develops and carries out its activities through a network of thematic centers, as needed. Thematic hubs are institutions or networks that are designed to enable the Center to systematically use the experience, structures and arrangements of existing regional and national institutions or organizations in order to accelerate the implementation of its core program of activities.
The functional relationship between the Center and the Thematic Hub is governed by the terms and conditions of the Technical Cooperation Agreement concluded between them. Thematic hubs will focus on specific solutions in selected sectors and areas such as energy, climate change, capacity building, research, investment and finance, and will function as central coordinating bodies in specific areas.
Article VI
Headquarters
The headquarters of the Center is located in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.
Article VII
Relations with ECO bodies
The Center should submit annual or periodic reports reviewing the current activities and future projects of the Center through the ECO Secretariat to the ECO Council of Ministers.
ECO-related policies should be taken into account by the Center when developing its activities and projects.
Article VIII
Relations with other organizations
The ECO Clean Energy Center, which is part of the Global Network of UNIDO Centers for Sustainable Energy, can establish cooperative relationships with other regional or international research institutes and organizations. The nature and extent of such cooperation is determined by the Board of Governors.
Article IX
Legal status
The Center has the legal personality of a Regional ECO Center provided by the legislative authorities of the host country. The privileges and immunities of the Center and its staff are determined by an agreement concluded between the Center and the Host country.
Article X
Finance
The Center should have an independent budget and funds for its research and administrative purposes, which should consist of:
(a) Contributions from Member States;
b) donations and charitable assistance;
c) other sources, such as income from the development and implementation of projects.
Article XI
Entry into force
This Charter shall enter into force after the deposit of the third instrument of ratification/approval with the Secretary General of the ECO.
Article XII
Regulatory documents
The Center should develop its own financial and personnel regulations, rules of procedure and conditions governing its cooperation with partner research institutes and other regional and international research organizations, which must be approved by the Board of Governors.
Article XIII
Amendments
Amendments to these Articles of Association proposed by the Member State or the Executive Director of the Center must be approved by the Board of Governors.
Article XIV
Official language
The official language of the Center is English.
Signed in Ashgabat on November 27, 2021, in a single copy in English, which remains in custody of the ECO Secretary General. Certified copies will be sent by the ECO Secretariat to all signatory States.
For the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan:
For the Republic of Azerbaijan:
For the Islamic Republic of Iran:
For the Republic of Kazakhstan:
For the Kyrgyz Republic:
For the Islamic Republic of Pakistan:
For the Republic of Tajikistan:
For the Republic of Turkey:
For Turkmenistan:
For the Republic of Uzbekistan:
President
Republic of Kazakhstan
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