Summary Record of the First Expert Group Meeting under the Supply and Demand Theme
Tokyo, 17 May 1991
Introduction
At the Second Meeting of APEC Energy Officials held in Jakarta on March 13 and 14, 1991 it was agreed that an Expert Group would be established in APEC and would be responsible for managing and reviewing the operation of the database. It was further decided that the Expert Group would meet within one month to consider the principles and methodology for running the database and to set up the mechanism for exchanging data and to furnish a report within three months thereafter (by end of July 1991) for consideration by APEC Energy Officials. Japan undertook to host the first meeting of experts.

Business Arrangements
The First Expert Group Meeting was held on May 17, chaired by Mr. Kenichi Matsui, Director of The Energy Data and Modelling Center, The Institute of Energy Economics Japan. Attendance at the meeting included experts from Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States, the ASEAN Secretariat and the PECC Minerals and Energy Forum.

  • Annex 1: Agenda for the Meeting
  • Annex 2: Participants
Welcome Address
Mr. Atsushi Inoue, Deputy Director of Energy Policy Planning Division, Agency of Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of International Trade and Industry presented the welcoming address.
  • Annex 3: Welcome Address
Summary of Discussions
1. Objective and Type of APEC Statistics
For formulating the energy policy of each country as well as identifying and promoting themes of energy cooperation, the arrangement of energy statistics and related information is crucial as the basis of these, especially at time when the Pacific Basin countries are experiencing remarkable economic growth as well as closer economic relationships with each other.

IEA and ADB have long promoted energy balance tables in the region. These tables are uniform, consistent and comparable worldwide. However, data in these tables are two years old and not necessarily suitable for formulating a timely policy of this region in the face of rapid change. It will be very beneficial for formulating a timely policy if the latest data which is existing in each country, but not yet published, is provided by the member countries under the accord reached by the APEC countries.

The raw data from each country cannot be aggregated for preparing comprehensive statistics in the region, since classifications, definitions and units vary among countries. Therefore, energy data of each country will not only be collected and accumulated, but as Australia stressed, formats, classifications, definitions, units, conversion factors and the like should be consistent so as to enable regional comparison. This task will not be easy and will take time.

It will be practical to commence the project by collecting and arranging the raw data of each country concurrently with working on complementing the data and making the data consistent.

For implementation of the project, the energy data program will emphasize the collection of the most currently available energy supply and demand data. The program will seek to avoid duplication of the statistical activities of the IEA and ADB and will take into consideration the reporting burden to international organizations that the member countries already have.

2. Mechanism for Data Exchange
The data collected will be compiled and put onto floppy disks and then sent back to the APEC countries. At the same time, the booklet "Pacific Energy Trends" will be edited and disseminated to the APEC countries. Regarding the format to be used for floppy disks, details have not yet been decided and should be discussed by member countries.

It has been proposed that the ASEAN Energy Managing & Training Center collects the data from member countries and sends these to the APEC database.

  • Annex 4: Mechanism for Exchanging APEC Energy Data
3. Costs of the Database
Discussions were made on the cost of the database. Costs still need to be clarified through such studies as on the nomination of Host Countries, the issue of publications, detailed tasks of the Secretariat, etc.

4. Frequency that data is to be updated
Regarding the frequency that data is to be updated, it is considered that on a monthly or quarterly basis is desirable. On the other hand, the current status of the arrangement of data in the ASEAN countries should be taken into account. Therefore, those countries which can provide monthly or quarterly data would provide as much data as possible. Since the ASEAN countries are already arranging their data on an annual basis, they would at least provide this, and they would try to make other existing data available for the APEC database on a monthly or quarterly basis whenever feasible.

5. Standardization
The draft format for the database will provided by the Energy Data and Modelling Center, IEE and will be reviewed by APEC energy experts. Those countries can fill out the format will send the data to the Secretariat. Other countries will send the raw data to the Secretariat which will make the necessary arrangements like conversions of units.

Summary of Action Program
Japan is to prepare the draft of the summary report of this meeting and the common format by the middle of June, which is to be circulated to the member countries. Member countries should submit their comments by the end of June. The revised summary report and common format will again be circulated and finalized, if it is agreeable by the middle of July.

The summary report and common format will be distributed at the 3rd Energy Officials Meeting.

Member countries agreed to submit data for 1990 and the first quarter of this year on the common format to the Secretariat by the middle of September.

Japan will commence the trial run of this project upon receipt of the data.

The Second Expert Group Meeting will be held to review the trial run around this November.

Annex 1
Agenda for the Meeting
1. Discussion on the methodology to be used to set up the Energy Database. Issues to be considered will include classification and definition of data, data format and procedures for collection and analyzing the data.
1-1 Objective and scope of the database.
Presentation by Japan
1-2 Proposing APEC Energy Statistics.
Presentation by Japan
1-3 Data comparability and consistency.
Presentation by Australia
2. Discussion on data availability with reference to the completed questionnaire from each country.
Explanation by each country and ASEAN secretariat

3. Discussion on how the data will be made available to member countries. Issues to be discussed will include procedures for disseminating the data, access to raw data, what computer format will be used, etc.
Presentation by Japan

4. Discussion regarding the schedule for the future action program.
Presentation by Japan

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