The Open Society Institute's Central Eurasia Project presented a discussion with Charles Esser, Energy Analyst for the International Crisis Group.
Esser spoke about the Crisis Group's latest report, which examines the resources of three countries—Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—and the dangers of mishandling them. The report argues that a trans-Caspian gas pipeline cannot largely write Russia out of the European energy equation, as Brussels hopes. But it also disputes the common view that the May 12Russian-Central Asian gas agreement prevents that pipeline from being built.
As Energy Analyst, Charles Esser works closely with Crisis Group staff around the world in providing advice on the structure and content of reports dealing with energy issues, and in contributing research and analysis to those reports. Prior to joining Crisis Group, Esser worked as Energy Officer at the U.S. Department of State and as Industry Economist at the U.S. Energy Information Administration–U.S. Department of Energy. He is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Erika Dailey, director of the OSI Turkmenistan Project, introduced the event.