2nd ECO Experts Meeting on Energy Resources Development and Their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

            The Second ECO Experts Meeting on Energy Resources Development and Their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was held on 2-3 August 2004 in Tehran.

 

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey and Turkmenistan.

 

The Meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. S. Mohammad Mojabi, Deputy Head of the Department of the Environment of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Dr. Davoud Rahbar, Director General of the Environmental Impact Assessment Bureau of the Department of the Environment of the Islamic Republic of Iran made the opening statement and ECO Director for Energy, Minerals and Environment Dr. Shamil Aleskerov welcomed the participants on behalf of ECO Secretariat. 

 

While stressing on the importance of EIA in the process of sustainable development, Mr. Mojabi added that environmental Impact Assessment could bring ecological balance, optimal consumption of natural resources and economic and social flourishing in national and international scenes.

 

The participants discussed different issues of the EIA including Environmental Impact Assessment of Power Plants, Small Hydroelectric power Projects, Environmental Evaluation of Renewable Energy and Environmental Management of Development Projects.  They also considered the role of relevant international organizations such as UNEP in promotion of environmental management in ECO member states.

 

 The meeting noted that while there is a huge potential for use of renewable energies, because of the existing technical, economic and institutional barriers, the use of these sources of energy is still limited and therefore increased efforts are needed to promote the development and use of renewable energies.

 

While noting the role of EIA in environmental management as ever increasing, the experts stressed that to promote EIA, the following is considered as important:

  • The development of EIA guidelines for different economic sectors with considerable environmental impact essential.

  • Establishment of EIA information and training centers.

  • Permanent responding to requirements for improving the EIA systems to bring them closer to the advanced international practice.

            This event followed the First Experts Meeting and the First ECO Training Workshop on Energy Resources Development and Their Environmental Impact Assessment held in 1999 and 2001 in Islamabad and Tehran respectively.

 

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