Meeting Summary

14th Meeting of the APEC Expert Group on Energy Data and Analysis
12 and 13 March 2003, Hanoi


The 14th Meeting of the APEC Expert Group on Energy Data and Analysis (EGEDA) was held on 12 and 13 March 2003 at the Melia Hanoi Hotel, Hanoi, Viet Nam. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Kenichi Matsui. Representatives from Australia; Canada; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia; Chinese Taipei; United States of America; and Viet Nam attended the meeting. Representatives of the Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC) and a representative of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) 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. Tran Minh Huan, Director, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Industry, Viet Nam.

The meeting discussed the following items:

  1. APEC energy statistics
  2. Monthly oil data collection
  3. APEC Energy Overview
  4. Research activities of APERCF:\Home-APEC\13th-member.bak
  5. Enhancing the Group's capacity to oversee the activites of APERC
  6. Other busines
1. APEC energy statistics

Mr. Shigeru Kimura, Deputy General Manager of the Energy Data and Modelling Center, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, assigned as the Coordinating Agency (CA) of this Group, reported that the CA was currently collecting annual data for 2001 and quarterly data for 2002. 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 consistent data in a timely manner, especially in relation to quarterly data.

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.

Official CO2 emission data for 2001 have been submitted by Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and USA. Australia, Canada, Mexico and Thailand were asked to submit the data as quickly as possible. Data for the remaining economies have been estimated by the CA.

Because China, Indonesia, New Zealand and Chinese Taipei have not agreed to make their CO2 data publicly available, the CA continues to control the data by ID and password. The Canadian delegate expressed a view that there is no reason to limit the release of the CO2 emission data.

The CA next reported on the update and expansion of the database, including the redesign of the current web page. The CA also requested the delegates historical energy data.

This was followed by three proposals from the CA in relation to data collection. These were to disaggregate gas processing into town gas, liquefaction and vaporisation; to combine coal transformation and gas recovery and separate to coke process and blast furnace gas process; and to remove the demand side items from the quarterly energy data collection format.

These proposals were approved subject to adding figures for stock change in the quarterly data collection format. This will allow the estimation of apparent primary consumption from the data returns.

Mr. Kimura 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 2000. Total final energy consumption grew at an average annual rate of 1.7 per cent over the same period.

Mr. Kimura, then reported on other activities in 2002-2003, including the First Workshop on Energy Statistics in the APEC Region (8-9 July 2002, Tokyo), the Survey on Utilization of the APEC Energy Database, and the Survey on Energy Statistics in the APEC Region, as well as the transfer of software to selected member economies.

2. Monthly oil data collection

Mr. Jean-Yves Garnier, representing the IEA, reported recent developments in the Joint Oil Data Initiative. Mr. Kimura reported the results of the monthly oil data collection in the APEC region. It was evident from the presentations that significant progress has been made over the past year in this important initiative in terms of the timeliness and coverage of data collection.

In the APEC region, the initiative has resulted in an improvement in the timeliness and coverage of economies but completeness and accuracy have not improved significantly. Several economies were urged to improve the completeness and accuracy of their data returns. Both Mr. Garnier and Mr. Kimura emphasized critical importance of transparency of data for the success of the Initiative.

3. APEC Energy Overview

Ms. Naoko Doi, APERC Researcher, reported on the APEC Energy Overview 2002. The Overview contributes to meeting the needs of the Energy Working Group for policy relevant information and analysis. Subsequent editions of the Overview will continue to be published on the APERC website as well as in printed form.

4. Research activities of APERC

Mr. Masaharu Fujitomi, President of APERC, reported on APERC Activities for 2002 and 2003. He highlighted the following research projects for the 2002-03 fiscal year:

  • Energy Security in the APEC Region;
  • Investment Issues in the Energy Sector;
  • Gas Market Reform;
  • Energy Efficiency Policy Evaluation.

The remaining projects reports will be published in July 2003.Dr. Yonghun Jung, Vice President of APERC, proposed new research projects for 2003-2004 consisting of:

  • Understanding energy in China;
  • Market for power interconnections in the APEC Region;
  • New and renewable energy in the APEC Region;
  • Nuclear power generation in the APEC Region

The Group discussed APERC's research proposals and comments on each proposal were received. The Group agreed that the four proposals represented high priority research tasks for APERC and the EWG. However, the Group considered that, before it endorsed the proposals, it required additional information from APERC on the objectives and content of the proposed projects, as well as their resourcing and planning implications.

It was agreed that this information would be provided by APERC out of session, not later than 25 March 2003, and that delegates would again consider endorsing the proposals. The outcome of this consideration would be provided to the Chair by 31 March 2003.

5. Enhancing the Group's capacity to oversee the activites of APERC

A proposal to enhance EGEDA's capacity to overview the activities and research agenda of APERC was presented to the Group by the Canadian delegate (Annex 2). The Group accepted the proposal and directed APERC to implement the procedures in the proposal. The Group agreed that further details regarding the composition and operations of the proposed advisory groups need to be considered further in conjunction with APERC. The Group expects all economies to participate Advisory Group process.

6. Other business

The Group agreed to request US$ 20,000 from the APEC Central Fund for 2004-2005 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 Chair sought co-sponsorship of this activity from all member economies present at the meeting. This was accepted by the Group.

Malaysia offered to host the 15th Meeting of the Group in March 2004 in Malaysia. The Group welcomed this offer.

Lastly, Mr. Vu Van Thai, Deputy Director, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Industry, Viet Nam, made a closing address. The Chairman expressed his appreciation to the Government of Viet Nam on behalf of all participants for excellently hosting the Meeting.