Meeting Summary

The 13th Meeting of the APEC Expert Group on Energy Data and Analysis (EGEDA) was held on 11 and 12 March 2002 at the Grand Hotel, Taipei, Chinese Taipei. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Kenichi Matsui. Representatives from Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam attended the meeting. The President of the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC) and a representative of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) (also representing Indonesia) were also present. A representative of the International Energy Agency (IEA) attended the meeting as an observer. A list of participants at the meeting is provided in Annex 1.

The meeting commenced with a welcome address by Mr Yunn Ming Wang, Deputy Secretary-General, Energy Commission, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Chinese Taipei.

The meeting discussed the following items:

1. APEC energy statistics
2. Results of the monthly oil data collection exercise
3. APEC Energy Overview
4. Research activities of APERC
5. APERC terms of reference
6. Future role and activities of EGEDA
7. Review of EGEDA's terms of reference
8. Other business

Mr. Shigeru Kimura, Deputy General Manager of the Energy Data and Modelling Center, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, known as the Coordinating Agency (CA) of this Group, reported that the CA collected annual data for 2000 and quarterly data for 2001. He pointed out that there are still problems in data collection in terms of the timing of submissions and the consistency of data. He urged members to submit high quality and consistent data in a timely manner.

He also reported on the status of the collection of CO₂ emission data, socio-economic indicators and other data items. He again urged economies to continue to cooperate on the submission of all data requested by the CA.

It was also agreed that each economy would be asked to give permission for its CO₂ data to be placed on the publicly available website of the APEC Energy Database.

Mr. Kimura then presented an overview of the APEC energy situation. He reported that total primary energy supply in the APEC region grew at an average annual rate of 2.2 per cent between 1980 and 1999. Total final energy consumption grew at an average annual rate of 1.7 per cent over the same period.

Mr. Kimura and Mr. Garnier, representing the IEA, reported the results of the monthly oil data collection exercise.

Following the recognition of the importance of EGEDA's involvement in the oil market data component of the Energy Working Group's 'Energy Security Initiative' at the 12th EGEDA Meeting in Hong Kong, China in March 2001 and the results of subsequent meetings of the concerned organizations (comprising APEC, EUROSTAT, IEA, OLADE, OPEC and UN), the CA of EGEDA coordinated a monthly oil data collection exercise for member economies from May to October 2001. This has since been extended to September 2002.

Most APEC economies participated in the exercise and overall it is considered to have been successful. However, there remain some important issues in terms of coverage, timeliness and accuracy. The Group recognized that some economies have difficulties in meeting the reporting requirements under the exercise, especially the timeliness requirement, however the Group agreed that all economies should, in principle, aim to meet these requirements. The Group also agreed that continuation of the data collection exercise is an essential component of the 'Energy Security Initiative'. It also recommended that the exercise become a permanent data collection task from late 2002.

The Group also recalled the APEC Ministerial Joint Statement of 2001 in which Ministers directed the Energy Working Group to report on the implementation of the Energy Security Initiative, including the oil data initiative. The Group therefore agreed to report its evaluation of the exercise to the Energy Security Initiative workshop to be held in Chinese Taipei in April 2002 and to recommend this to the Energy Working Group.

The Group also recommended that the Energy Working Group support the oil data collection exercise by better communicating the importance of the exercise to relevant high level government and industry officers in each economy. To that end it was agreed that Mr Kenichi Matsui, Chair of EGEDA, would write to Mr Tim Mackey, Chair of the Energy Working Group, to request that he seek the commitment from EWG members to support the oil data collection exercise, including the timely and consistent collection of data.

Further, Japan offered to host an 'Energy data quality' workshop in Tokyo in July 2002. The Group agreed to accept Japans proposal to contribute to the development of energy data quality in the APEC region.

Mr. Tatsuo Masuda, President of APERC, reported on the APEC Energy Overview 2001. EGEDA stressed that the Overview contributed to meeting the needs of the Energy Working Group for policy relevant information and analysis, and agreed that the APEC Energy Overview would continue to be produced as a joint activity between APERC and EGEDA. Subsequent editions of the Overview will continue to be published on the APERC website as well as in printed form.

"APEC Energy Overview 2002" will be produced according to the following timetable:

May-June 2002

Compilation of data and information;

July-August 2002

Preparation of the draft report;

September 2002

Circulation to member economies for comments;

October 2002

Completion of the final report and publication.

Mr. Tatsuo Masuda, President of APERC, reported on APERC Activities for 2001 and 2002. First, he mentioned that the report, 'Review of APERC', undertaken by the EGEDA review team was very valuable for APERC. He then highlighted the following research projects for the 2001-02 fiscal year:

• Energy Demand and Supply Outlook 2002;
• Energy efficiency indicators and potential energy saving in APEC economies;
• Emerging energy options in the APEC region;
• Natural gas storage in the APEC region;
• Natural gas utilization in the industrial sector;
• Energy security initiative;

Mr Masuda also proposed a work plan for 2002, consisting of:

• the implementation of the sea lane disruption simulation exercise under the Energy Security Initiative; and three new studies:
• Regulatory Reform in the Natural Gas Sector;
• Investment Issues in Energy Infrastructure in the APEC Region; and
• Energy Efficiency Policy Evaluation.

In addition, APERC will participate in three collaborative projects: *Preparation of a paper on 'Drivers of the Energy Scene', as part of the World Energy Council Study Program);

• Preparation of a background paper for the 8th International Energy Forum on 'Key Issues in Asia and their Global Implications'; and
• Energy Efficiency Policy Evaluation as part of a collaboration with the French agency ADEME (Agency for Environment and Energy Management) and OLADE.

Mr. Masuda also reported on other APERC issues, including the budget and the composition of the research staff.

In discussion, it was pointed out that completion of the APEC Energy Outlook 2002 should be given the highest priority. Some concerns were expressed about the number of research projects that APERC was considering given its current research capacity.

After discussion, the Group recorded its appreciation to APERC for the completion of its research activities and its significant contribution to policy discussion in APEC fora. The Group agreed that APERC's proposed research projects for 2002 were appropriate.

Mr Masuda also presented draft terms of reference for APERC, in response to the first recommendation of the APERC review team. The Group suggested amendments to the draft terms of reference, including that the APEC Energy Outlook be produced every two years. The amended terms of reference will be forwarded to the Energy Working Group for consideration at its next meeting.

The Group then discussed ways to enhance the Group's capacity to oversight the activities of APERC.

Karen Schneider, Vice Chair of the Group, briefed participants on the outcome of the review of APERC that was undertaken in 2001. She highlighted the review team's recommendations that EGEDA delegates seek the input of their policy colleagues when formulating input to APERC. She also outlined other recommendations relating to APERC's relationship with the Energy Working Group such as setting an APERC workshop in conjunction with the 2nd semiannual EWG Meeting.

The Chair, Mr Kenichi Matsui, then mentioned that the APERC Advisory Board Meeting held in Tokyo on 1 February 2002 expressed the view that the APEC Energy Outlook is APERC's most significant task. He also reported that concerns were expressed by several Advisory Board members regarding the number of research projects undertaken by APERC and the relevance of some projects, including the Sea Lane Disruption Simulation.

The Group examined the current terms of reference. It adopted a new terms of reference that included several minor changes.

The Group agreed to request US$ 28,500 from the APEC Central Fund for 2003-2004 for the publication of 'APEC Energy Statistics', 'Handbook of APEC Energy Statistics', 'APEC Energy Overview' and to produce and distribute APEC Energy Statistics on CD-ROM. The number of hard cover publications of the Handbook of Energy Statistics and CD-ROMs will be increased to meet anticipated demand. The Chair sought co-sponsorship of this activity from all member economies present at the meeting. This was accepted by the Group.

The Group reappointed Mr Kenichi Matsui as Chair of EGEDA for the next three years. His nomination of Ms Karen Schneider as Vice Chair for the same period of time was accepted by the Group.

The Group agreed to conduct before its next meeting a survey on the status of resources allocated to energy statistics in member economies. The Group also agreed to request that APERC make a presentation on the key findings of the APEC Energy Overview at subsequent meetings.

Viet Nam offered to host the 14th Meeting of the Group in March 2003 in Hanoi. The Group welcomed this offer.

Lastly, Mr Shih-Ming Chuang, Division Director, Energy Commission, made a closing address. The Chairman expressed his appreciation to the Government of Chinese Taipei on behalf of all participants for excellently hosting the Meeting.