JI/CDM Project Presentation and Investors Forum in Leipzig

The JI/CDM Project Presentation and Investors Forum was held jointly by the Climate Technology Initiative and the German Energy Agency on behalf of Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) in Leipzig, Germany on 14-16 October 2007. The event was aimed at presenting potential Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in Southern and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia to interested investors, and providing a platform for a business-to-business dialogue between investors, project owners and developers.

The presentations and discussions focused on the important current issues of JI/CDM project identification and development as well as on possibilities for future implementation of Green Investment Schemes. In total, more than 50 CDM and JI projects were presented and about 70 representatives from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Ukraine and Uzbekistan participated in the forum.

The forum focused on Southern and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia because the full potential of the Kyoto flexible mechanisms in these regions had not been explored so far, in particular the countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia. As such the forum aimed to provide these countries with the opportunity to maximize the chances for financing and implementing project activities presented.

The forum consisted of plenary sessions on Kyoto flexible mechanisms, project financing, and Green Investment Schemes, and parallel workshops during which potential projects in energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors were presented. Bilateral meetings between investors, project owners and developers were also held to facilitate dialogue to foster better understanding of views and experiences of each other.

Participants of the forum were also familiarized with CTI's Private Finance Advisory Network (PFAN). PFAN is an initiative of the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) in cooperation with the UNFCCC Expert Group on Technology Transfer to broaden the access to financing for climate friendly and technology transfer projects. Its ultimate goal is to get more renewable energy and climate friendly projects financed and thereby to accelerate technology transfer under the UNFCCC.

The Armenian delegation represented by Mr. Artem Kharazyan (UNDP/GEF "Preparation of the Armenia's Second National Communication" Project) and Mr. Vahram Jalalyan (UNDP/GEF "Armenia - Improving EE of Municipal Heating and HWS" Project) made 6 presentations on CDM development in Armenia.

Presentation on "CDM overview in Armenia" provided information on the status and structure of the Designated National Authority for the CDM as well as CDM projects revision and approval procedure in Armenia, whereas the presentation on "Methodological Problems in Baseline Determination for Energy Efficiency in District Heating" was aimed at description of difficulties with selection of a baseline for DH projects as well as lack of relevant approved methodologies in the sector.

At the parallel session the delegation made detailed presentations on four CDM projects which needed additional funding for materialization, thus, could be of interest of the forum participants and investors.