CLDP has recently finalized an agreement with the State Department’s Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) to provide technical assistance under the aegis of ENR’s Energy Governance Capacity Initiative (EGCI) and Unconventional Gas Technical Engagement Program (UGTEP). As part of the EGCI program, ENR has asked CLDP to travel to Burma  to conduct a mini-workshop or consultations on creating an attractive investment environment in the energy sector and to assess opportunities for future engagement. 

Accordingly, from March 4-8, 2013, CLDP and ENR will arrange meetings with key energy ministries and stakeholders to conduct an assessment on the current legal and regulatory frameworks in the Burmese energy sector. CLDP’s key objectives are to identify capacity building needs and sustainable partners and to assess corresponding absorptive capacity.  CLDP will also be prepared to hold a mini-workshop that will include the following topics: correlation of the general investment law to the oil and gas legal and regulatory regime, economics of oil and gas markets, balancing national vs. commercial interests, and regulatory transparency and predictability.  At the conclusion of this visit, CLDP will prepare an action plan that includes a summary of the assessment trip and action plan for future energy technical assistance to the Government of Burma.