About Us – Bureau of Energy Resources - United States Department of State

The Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) operates at the critical intersection between energy, climate, and U.S. national security and ensures U.S. leadership on global energy issues. ENR holds the State Department seat on the governing board of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and leads the U.S. delegation to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). In addition to the office of the Assistant Secretary, the Bureau has five offices:

EWA advances energy security and decarbonization in Europe and Central Asia and leads Department engagement on energy related sanction actions in these regions. EWA seeks to advance bilateral and regional energy diplomacy throughout Europe and Central Asia in support of U.S. foreign energy policy. In executing energy diplomacy priorities, EWA emphasizes improving energy market access, enhancing energy security, and promoting decarbonization through clean and renewable energy sources and technologies.

In the Western Hemisphere, EWA supports sustainable energy sector development and decarbonization through diplomatic engagement to promote good governance, encourage good business practices, and strengthen U.S. energy security.
In sub-Saharan Africa, EWA works to balance decarbonization, energy security, and just and equitable energy access on a continent where half the population lacks access to electricity. As part of interagency initiatives such as Power Africa and Prosper Africa, EWA works to attract private investment and increase two-way trade and generation capacity in support of regional stability.
As a key function in promoting U.S. energy diplomacy priorities, EWA conducts vigorous outreach to and advocacy on behalf of U.S. firms.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Laura Lochman and Office Director Seneca Johnson are responsible for this office.

MEA advances the Administration’s energy security, decarbonization, and energy access priorities through bilateral and multilateral engagement with nations in the region.
In the Indo-Pacific Strategy, MEA advances Department objectives through bilateral energy dialogues, promotion of U.S. views in multilateral organizations like ASEAN, and through the Clean EDGE Asia mechanism that encourages private sector clean energy investment.
MEA engages frequently with private sector companies to learn about new technologies, advocate for U.S. companies abroad, and promote public private partnerships.

MEA promotes energy interconnectivity in the Middle East North Africa region through bilateral and multilateral engagement through organization like the East Med Gas Forum and the Gulf Cooperation Council. MEA supports the use of energy as a tool to increase cooperation in the region.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Laura Lochman and Office Director Chris Davy are responsible for this office.

ETR provides in-depth subject matter expertise on climate finance and power market structures, as well as the entire suite of clean and renewable energy technologies, including energy storage, e-mobility, clean hydrogen, distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, smart grids, enhanced grid interconnection, nuclear energy, biofuels, and cyber security.

ETR provides technical and policy expertise and shares best practices in bilateral and multilateral platforms on power systems and developing low-carbon technologies, supportive policy and regulatory frameworks, financing options, supply chain risks, private sector procurement of clean energy and equitable job creation in public and private sectors.

ETR also chairs U.S. interagency participation in multilateral and bilateral forums – including the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), REN21, and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining – and clean energy finance task forces.

As the lead for the Energy Resource Governance Initiative (ERGI), ETR guides engagement with a range of partners to build robust supply chains for minerals and metals that are essential to the clean energy transition, and to ensure these supply chains adhere to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Anna Shpitsberg and Office Director Helaina Matza are responsible for this office.

EP manages ENR’s foreign assistance resources and its global energy foreign assistance programs: The Power Sector Program (PSP) and the Energy and Mineral Governance Program (EMGP).
EP has provided direct assistance to more than 50 countries around the world to improve energy and mineral sector governance and oversight. EP also promotes reliable and affordable energy supply through power sector reform and development.
EP works in all energy sectors to strengthen governance frameworks and increase technical capacities to help allies and partners oversee and develop their energy and mineral sectors as well as transition to a net-zero emissions future.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Harry Kamian and Office Director Paul Hueper are responsible for this office.

PAPD leads the Department’s analysis of key developments in international energy markets and their impact on our U.S. energy security, and U.S. economic, environmental, and foreign policy interests.
PAPD advances U.S. energy priorities at multilateral and international organizations, leading U.S. delegations to the International Energy Agency, the International Energy Forum, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. It also represents the State Department at G7 and G20 energy ministerial meetings.
PAPD helps design, implement, and monitor energy-related sanctions, and analyzes and reviews key cross border energy infrastructure projects.
PAPD’s public diplomacy team shapes ENR’s strategic messaging to advance Department goals with key international stakeholders, through traditional media, including extensive press interaction, a widely followed @EnergyAtState Twitter feed, presentations to industry conferences, and engagements with think tanks.

In conjunction with the Foreign Service Institute, PAPD designs and executes training on international energy diplomacy for foreign affairs professionals throughout the government.

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Harry Kamian and Office Director Carl Watson are responsible for this office.

About Us – Bureau of Energy Resources