At the Shanghai Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on June 15 2006, the Russian President suggested establishing an Energy Club within the SCO to coordinate the energy strategies of hydrocarbon producer, consumer and transit nations through a consensus of interests in official, business and scientific circles. The Russian proposal was supported by the leaders of the SCO member nations.
During the SCO fuel and energy experts meeting on June 19, 2007 in Moscow, a draft Statement on the SCO Energy Club was presented by the Russian Energy and Industry Ministry. The initiative was accepted without question by all parties and was recommended for consideration at the first (informal) meeting of SCO member nations' ministers responsible for fuel and energy development on June 29, 2007 in Moscow.
Following the energy ministers' meeting, a decision was made to continue the effort to establish the Energy Club. The initiative was approved by five countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan has thus far refrained from participating in this project but is expected to join the club as soon as the latter has a more stable structure.
Russia proposed making the SCO Energy Club a venue for informal opinion exchange on energy and fuel issues. The SCO Business Council is prepared to take an active part in developing the club. Additionally, scientific circles can join the work through the SCO Forum.