Russian
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY SECURITY:
UNECE PROJECT PROVIDES A NEW RESPONSE FOR THE CIS
UNECE Committee on Sustainable Energy Releases New Study
Jointly with the
Commonwealth of Independent States
Geneva, 21 November 2001
"Energy efficiency is an important part of our energy
security for the Republic of Belarus and for other member States of the
Commonwealth of Independent States" said Mr. Lev Dubovik, Chairman
of the State Committee of Energy Saving during the opening session of the
UNECE Committee on Sustainable Energy on 21 November 2001.
At present, the CIS member countries have an enormous
potential for energy conservation estimated to be between 600 and 650 million
tons of oil equivalent. This amounts to well over half the annual total energy
consumption of CIS member countries. According to experts, a considerable part
of this potential could actually be achieved. This would improve the energy
balances and balances of trade of most CIS countries. Achieving even part of
this large potential would have important environmental benefits since much of
the savings would come from fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Preliminary estimates show that the costs of the efficiency improvements would
be lower than the investments needed for a commensurate increase in energy
supplies.
The study Energy Efficiency and Energy Security in CIS was initiated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in
cooperation with the Inter-State Economic Committee of the Commonwealth of
Independent States in accordance with the Joint Statement of the UNECE
secretariat and the CIS Inter-State Economic Committee of the CIS Economic
Union dated 4 September 1997. The study was prepared by a Group of Experts
appointed by CIS governments and supported by the UNECE Energy
Efficiency 21 Project and the Ministry of Industry, Science and
Technology of the Russian Federation. It represents the first phase of the
project. Further analyses and publications with the support of the United
Nations Foundation and United Nations Fund for International Partnerships are
underway.
The purpose of this initial study is to assess the
potential for energy conservation in CIS member countries to the year 2010 and
to explain how improvements in energy efficiency of member countries could
contribute to enhancing their energy security. The project has been designed
to examine the key role of international cooperation between CIS member
countries and with other ECE member States in Europe and North America in
promoting energy conservation and energy efficiency. The analysis was carried
out by the Group of Experts on the basis of information provided by National
Experts appointed by the Governments of the CIS member States.
International experience has shown that vigorous energy
efficiency measures can reduce the growth of national energy demand, lower
energy imports and ease the energy constraints of economies in transition. At
the same time, carefully designed international cooperation projects for
promoting energy efficiency can help reduce the impact of energy supply
constraints – thus contributing to the energy, economic, environmental and
national security of participating countries.
Three key factors will determine how large the energy
efficiency improvements will be in the CIS. First, greatly expanded economic,
scientific and technological cooperation is needed to help establish liberal
and competitive markets for energy resources, and to provide energy
conservation equipment and services. These market formation activities need to
foster consumer choice and promote improvements in end-use applications of
energy. Second, the time horizon, scope and sequence of tasks envisaged will
influence what can be achieved. The study recommends a series of linked
solutions to be implemented in stages as short, medium and long-term
activities.
The third factor is the amount, priority and efficiency of
investments. Given the actual capabilities of CIS member States to finance
energy efficiency investments, this report suggests priorities depending on
the amount of investments needed and sequence in which they would be
implemented. Clearly, low-cost and no-cost energy management and
administrative reforms should come first. Through a variety of energy policy
reforms, these initial measures can help finance technical solutions requiring
relatively small investments. As market formation activities begin to have an
effect, international financial institutions, targeted funds and commercial
banks can help finance larger investments.
A second phase of this initiative is being pursued in the
United Nations Foundation supported project on Energy Efficiency Investments
for Climate Change Mitigation (ECE-CIS-99-043) as part of the UNECE Energy
Efficiency 21 Project. It examines more closely the investment requirements of
national energy efficiency programmes for a selection of CIS countries:
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and the Ukraine. This will also
include descriptions of several best practice case studies of energy
efficiency projects already financed in these countries.
For more information please contact:
Mr. Frederic Romig
Division for Sustainable Energy
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Telephone: +(41 22) 917 24 10, 917 24 07
Telefax: +(41 22) 917 02 27, 917 00 38
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.unece.org and www.ee-21.net
The publication referred to may be obtained from:
Sales and Marketing Section, LDP/DPI
United Nations
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Telephone: +(41 22) 917 26 06
Telefax: +(41 22) 917 00 27
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.un.org/Pubs
|
Sales and Marketing Section, LDP/DPI
Dept. DO17 - Room DC2-853
United Nations
New York, NY 10017, USA
Telephone: +(1 212) 963 8302 or
800
253 9646
Telefax: +(1 212) 963 3489
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.un.org/Pubs
|
Bibliographic information
Energy Efficiency and Energy Security in the CIS, ECE Energy Series No.
17, United Nations, New York and Geneva, 2001
Sales No. GV.E.01.0.10, ISBN 92-1-101037-3, US$ 30.00
Soft cover, 104 pages - Available in English and Russian languages.
Ref: ECE/ENE/01/01