In participating countries assistance will be provided to national administrations and municipal authorities to introduce the economic, institutional, regulatory, energy policy and energy pricing reforms needed to develop the CLRTAP National Programme (WP1) and to support investments in deployment of appropriate and commercially viable CCTs in the sub-region. Specific options for energy policy and pricing reforms will be oriented to particular projects of participating public institutions and private sector companies. 

A series of three seminars, to which a total of 15-20 participants from all the Central Asian economies will be invited, will be organized to introduce and assess the following issues: Seminar One: Various cost-effective CCT options with high efficiency and environmental performance capable of utilizing locally available coal whilst meeting environmental protection standards and regulations, including CLRTAP. This seminar will be based upon the results of an in-depth study. Seminar Two: Economic, legal, environmental, institutional, and regulatory policy measures supported by appropriate energy pricing reforms needed to develop the CLRTAP National Programme (WP1) and to facilitate investments in the sub-region for deployment of appropriate, cost-effective and commercially available CCTs. This will be based on an in-depth expert review. Seminar Three: The most appropriate pricing reforms regarding coal (taking into account competitiveness with alternative hydrocarbons), heat, and electricity that should be implemented in Central Asian countries to facilitate investments for deployment in the sub-region of appropriate CCTs, with in particular lower specific capital costs and optimal environmental performance whilst ensuring energy affordability and acceptability for the lower income groups. Kyoto flexible mechanisms, in particular the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) with emphasis on prospects for CDM and JI implementation in the sub-region and benefits that might be gained in terms of facilitating investment in technology deployment. Various market mechanisms for financing investments in CCTs, in particular, such advanced schemes as third party financing, leasing, BOT, TOT etc. 

Specific options for energy policy and pricing reforms will be oriented to specific projects of participating public institutions and private sector companies. Assessment of environmental externalities attributed to coal use will be conducted as a tool to demonstrate the benefits of CCTs at the local and regional levels. Potential and prospects of for CDM and JI implementation will be analyzed in terms of creation of additional incentives for facilitating clean coal investments. 

The series of three seminars will be supported by two corresponding expert reviews on: (a) Clean coal technologies and specific applicability to Central Asia, including (i) cost versus performance analysis of various CCTs paying special attention to the environmental outcome in terms of the emission of air pollutants (SOx, NOx, GHGs, particulates, volatile organic compounds etc) and generation and disposal of solid and liquid waste; (ii) consideration and assessment of the specific characteristics and properties of Central Asian coal resources and identification of those CCTs that are most suitable for local application; and (iii) assessment of the environmental performance of CCTs when applied to local coals and identification of the need for additional air pollution abatement equipment. (b) Energy policies and pricing reforms in Central Asia and scenarios for future energy development in order to evaluate the environmental benefits with regard to air pollution in Central Asia from full-scale deployment of appropriate CCTs. 50. Following completion of the seminars and supporting reviews, a CD-ROM will be created comprising all the activities undertaken and also including comprehensive recommendations for national decision makers, administrations and municipal authorities. The material on the CD-ROM will also be made available on the project website to widen its audience. 

This WP will specifically result in: 

• Detailed reviews of appropriate CCTs applicable for Central Asia and energy policy and energy pricing reforms relevant to the promotion of appropriate CCTs in collaboration with national and municipal authorities, private sector partners and international experts.
  

• Assessment of specific policy options and pricing reforms required to support selected case study investment projects. 
  

• Enhanced capacity of national administrations and municipal authorities to introduce the economic, institutional, regulatory, energy policy and energy pricing reforms needed to develop the CLRTAP Implementation Plan (WP1) and to support investments in deployment of appropriate CCTs in the sub-region so as to achieve cost-effective environmental benefits.