1 / 15

FDI in the Energy Sector: Challenges for IIA negotiators

FDI in the Energy Sector: Challenges for IIA negotiators. Workshop on the Role of Intergovernmental Agreements in Energy Policy Geneva, April 29, 2013. Dr. Joachim KARL Chief, Investment Policy Research Section UNCTAD. Power 52% US$13.6. Oil 24%

senwe
Download Presentation

FDI in the Energy Sector: Challenges for IIA negotiators

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. FDI in the Energy Sector: Challenges for IIA negotiators Workshop on the Role of Intergovernmental Agreements in Energy Policy Geneva, April 29, 2013 Dr. Joachim KARLChief, Investment Policy Research SectionUNCTAD

  2. Power 52% US$13.6 Oil 24% US$6.3 Gas 21% US$5.5 Biofuels <1% US$0.2 Coal 3% US$0.7 Investment needs in the energy sector • US$ 26 trillion will be required in the energy sector until 2030 IEA: World Energy Outlook

  3. Greenfield FDI in the energy sector, 2003-2011 • The annual FDI flows continue to remain below pre-crisis peak UNCTAD Database

  4. Factors that discourage FDI in the energy sector: • “Cash overhang” in TNCs 2. Resource nationalism among energy producing countries 3. Unstable political and legal environment 4. Deficiencies in theinternational policy framework 5. Local resistance to new investment projects 6. Increasing investment costs

  5. The dichotomy of investment policies in the energy sector • On the one hand, many countries seek to promote FDI in the energy sector in light of pressing investment needs; • On the other hand, many countries seek to keep control over natural sesources and a strategically important sector.

  6. Liberalisation/ facilitation in all sectors Liberalisation/ facilitation in energy sector Restriction/ Regulation in energy sector Restriction/ Regulation in all sectors Policies with regard to FDI in the energy sector The energy sector is more prone to State intervention than most other economic activities Source: UNCTAD

  7. Recent examples of new investment liberalisation and promotion measures in the energy sector • Approval of large-scale foreign acquisitions; • Relaxation of approval requirement for FDI in subsoil resources; • Privatisation of state-owned power generation and gas distribution companies; • Granting of incentives to investments in unconventional energy resources.

  8. Recent examples of new investment regulations and restrictions in the energy sector • Tightened screening requirements; • Expropriations and nationalizations; • Increases in taxes or royalties; • Renegotiation of investment contracts; • Exit from nuclear energy.

  9. International investment arbitration on the rise UNCTAD Database

  10. Investment arbitration in the energy sector (I) UNCTAD Database

  11. Most FDI in the energy sector is covered by at least one type of IIAs • BITs: More than 2,800. However, most of them are limited to post-establishment protection. • Regional IIAs: Increasing in number and importance. • ECT: Broad coverage of all policy aspects. However, many important oil and gas producer countries are absent. • WTO (GATS, TRIMS): Cover (1) investment in services and (2) prohibit certain trade-related performance requirements.

  12. How to balance private and public interests- A key challenge for IIA negotiators 1 Strengthening the development dimension of IIAs • Safeguarding policy space for sustainable development needs • Making investment promotion provisions more concrete and consistent with sustainable development objectives 2 Balancing the rights and obligations of states and investors • Reflecting investor responsibilities in IIAs • Learning from and building on CSR principles 3 Managing the systemic complexity of the IIA regime • Dealing with gaps, overlaps and inconsistencies in IIA coverage and content and resolving institutional and dispute settlement issues • Ensuring effective interaction and coherence with other public policies and systems

  13. Crucial policy issues for IIAs • Entry rights – yes or no? • Need for reservations and exceptions? • Respect clause – yes or no? • Interpretation of fair and equitable treatment clause; • Issue of indirect expropriation; • Access to international arbitration; • Promoting non-binding standards on investor behaviour, such as the UN Global Compact, “Ruggie Principles”, ILO, OECD Guidelines, CSR codes.

  14. Core Principles "Design criteria" for investment policies and for the other IPFSD components National investment policy guidelines Concrete guidance for policymakers on how to formulate investment policies and regulations and on how to ensure their effectiveness IIA elements: policy options Clause-by-clause options for negotiators to strengthen the sustainable development dimension of IIAs UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development helps policymakers address these challenges

  15. Thank you For more information, please visit: http://www.unctad.org http://investmentpolicyhub.org

More Related