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You Are Here: Home > APEC Groups > SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation > Working Groups > Energy Working Group
 
 
Energy Working Group  

Accounting for around 60% of world energy demand, the APEC region is a net energy importer given that its aggregate annual consumption of energy exceeds annual domestic production. Energy imports to APEC economies are projected to increase by approximately 92% between 2000 and 2020 as domestic supplies fail to keep pace with expanding energy demands which are being driven by economic growth, industrialization and urbanization. According to the Energy Working Group's (EWG) projection, demand for energy in the APEC region will continue to increase for the foreseeable future.

OPEC and IEA projections indicate a need for investment of US$20 trillion between 2005-2030 in all energy sectors world-wide and, in particular for investment in oil and gas of US$6 trillion (International Energy Agency, 2006 World Energy Outlook). The capital expenditure on oil and gas of US$200 billion per year includes the expansion of oil and gas supply capacity as well as the modernization of existing upstream and downstream facilities. The energy sector in APEC economies faces significant challenges in mobilizing the private capital and international financial resources required to fund the estimated US$3.4 trillion to US$4.4 trillion in energy investments needed over the next 20 years.

The EWG has long recognized that business can make an important contribution to the development and implementation of its work program. It was one of the first APEC fora to establish its own public and private sector dialogue mechanism - the EWG Business Network (EBN). The EBN advises the EWG on energy policy issues from an industry perspective and facilitates regular dialogues between energy policy-makers and business sector representatives.

The EWG, launched in 1990, seeks to maximize the energy sector's contribution to the region's economic and social well-being, while mitigating the environmental effects of energy supply and use.

The EWG is assisted in its work by four Expert Groups (
Expert Group on Clean Fossil Energy, Expert Group on Efficiency & Conservation, Expert Group on Energy Data & Analysis, Expert Group on New & Renewable Energy Technologies) and a Task Force on Biofuels.

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Achievements

APEC energy cooperation is now conducted under the framework of
Energy Security Initiative (ESI), which was first put forward by the group in 2000 to prepare the region for energy supply disruptions and their impact on the APEC economic development. The ESI includes short-term measures such as the Monthly Oil Data Initiative, maritime security, Real-Time Emergency Information Sharing, and Oil Supply Emergency Response. It also includes long-term responses to Energy Investment, Natural Gas Trade, Nuclear Power, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Hydrogen, Methane Hydrates, and Clean Fossil Energy. JODI is a collaborative oil information collection program undertaken by APEC, OPEC, IEA, IEF, and UNEP.

Noting that cooperation and partnership are essential to addressing energy security and environmental challenges that extend beyond the sphere of any single economy or the APEC economies as a group, the EWG is now further strengthening collaboration with other international energy fora on a broad range of energy issues, including maritime energy transport security, emergency preparedness, energy efficiency, clean energy technology, etc. Currently, the International Energy Agency (IEA), Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and the Energy Charter Secretariat have been granted guest status in EWG.

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Current Activities

  
The APEC Energy Trade and Investment Study is currently being undertaken to identify all existing barriers to energy trade and investment in APEC region. An APEC Energy Trade and Investment Roundtable meeting will be held in Cairns, Australia on 24-25 September 2008 to develop a plan of action to address these trade and investment impediments.

At their meeting in Iquitos, Peru the EWG responded to Leaders' directives by discussing and endorsing the APEC Peer Review Mechanism on Energy Efficiency (PREE). The key objectives of PREE are to promote information sharing among APEC members on energy efficiency performances as well as on policies and measures for improving energy efficiency; to explore how energy efficiency goals on an overall and/or sectoral basis and action plans could be effectively formulated and improved in each APEC economy under review. New Zealand and Chile have volunteered to undergo the peer review at EWG37 which will be held in the first half of 2009.

In the Sydney APEC Leaders' Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development, endorsed on 9 September 2007, APEC Leaders highlighted the importance of improving energy efficiency by working towards achieving an APEC-wide regional aspirational goal of a reduction in energy intensity of at least 25 per cent by 2030 (with 2005 as the base year). They also decided to establish an Asia-Pacific Network for Energy Technology (APNet) to strengthen collaboration on energy research in the region, particularly in areas such as clean fossil energy and renewable energy sources.

The 8th APEC Energy Ministers Meeting (EMM8) was held in Darwin, Australia on May 27-30, 2007. The discussion focused on improving energy efficiency and support for the development and deployment of cleaner and more efficient energy technologies.

Energy Ministers directed officials to improve energy efficiency by:

  • setting individual goals and action plans;
  • collaborating with the IEA to develop energy efficiency indicators;
  • sharing information on energy efficiency policies and measures;
  • encouraging APEC economies to contribute to and utilize the APEC Energy Standards Information System (ESIS); and
  • establishing Peer Review Mechanism on Energy Efficiency , which will be a useful way to take these efforts forward on energy efficiency.

Energy Ministers also agreed to develop and deploy cleaner and more efficient energy technologies and also determined that addressing the challenges of energy security and sustainable development should be based on well-functioning markets and directed the Energy Working Group to contribute to the proposed APEC Energy Trade & Investment Study and Roundtable.
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Energy Working Group (EWG) - Key Contacts

Acting Lead Shepherd
Mr. John Griffiths
General Manager, International Energy Branch
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
GPO Box 1964
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
Tel: (61-2) 6213 7830
Fax: (61-2) 6213 7900
E-mail:
John.Griffiths@ret.gov.au


APEC Secretariat
Mr Sun Tao
Director (Program)
E-mail: st@apec.org

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2007 Summary of APEC Fora's Reports to SCE III
(DOC,1600 Kb)
Guidebook for Financing New and Renewable Energy Projects
(PDF,433 Kb)
External Related Links
APEC Energy Working Group
APEC Biofuels