EBC Meeting - 18 May 2010

CEOs and senior executives from about 30 global energy companies, leaders in fossil, nuclear and renewables sectors as well as large energy-consuming organisations, met with senior IEA officials in Paris for the third meeting of the IEA Energy Business Council (EBC).

The meeting, chaired by IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol, was opened by Executive Director, Nobuo Tanaka, in the presence of the IEA Governing Board Chair, Marie Pierre Fauconnier. IEA Deputy Executive Richard Jones also participated.

Companies and organisation attending the 3rd EBC meeting included: Acciona, Alstom Power, Anglo American, Edison, Enel, Fortum, Global CCS Institute, GDFSUEZ, Independent Cement Producers, Lafarge, Michelin, Nippon Steel, Novozymes, OMV, PEMEX, Petrobras, RWE Innogy, Sharp, Shell, Siemens, Solar Electric Light Fund, Tokyo Electric Power Co., Toyota, Vestas, Volkswagen, Westinghouse Electric Company, World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The half-day meeting, followed by an evening reception hosted by Amb. Chris Hoornaert, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the OECD, shared expertise on key energy topics as well as to provide business inputs into IEA work, particularly the forthcoming World Energy Outlook 2010. It was structured around three main items:

EBC family photo

• The IEA’s Views on Recent Developments in Global Energy Markets
• Climate Change Policy – Implications for the Energy Industry
• Looking to the Future – What does industry need from the IEA’s analyses and messages?

EBC participants addressed during the meeting key topics such as:

• Update on global energy markets: the EBC commented the latest developments on oil, gas and power sectors highlighting the need to reduce the volatility and uncertainties that affect energy investments
• Follow up of the COP15 and expectations from Cancun meeting (COP-16): the EBC provided its view on COP-15 outcomes and questioned about the chances to achieve a binding agreement in the near future. The need of a larger engagement of the private sector in the negotiations was also discussed
• Input to IEA’s analyses and messages: the EBC provided advices to IEA for its strategy and activities on a broad range of key topics including investment outlook, energy policies, interconnection between intergovernmental sector and industry, etc.
• Input to World Energy Outlook 2010: the EBC remarked that WEO represents an authoritative source for major international forum such as G20, G8 and MEF, as well as for business’ work. The EBC welcomed selection themes for WEO 2010 and it was willing to contribute with data, inputs and comments

A report of the main outcomes of the EBC meeting was presented on 20th May at the IEA Governing Board meeting by two distinguished EBC members: Ms. MacNaughton, Senior Vice President Alstom Power and Mr. Mori, Executive Vice President, Enel.

Relevant documents:

See Agenda

See presentations from:

• Dr. Birol, IEA Chief Economist
• Mr. Houssin, IEA Director for Energy Markets and Security
• Mr. Cronshaw, IEA Head of Energy Diversification Division
• Dr. Bradley, IEA Head of Energy Efficiency and Environment Division
• Mr. Mori, Executive Vice President, Enel
• Ms. MacNaughton, Senior Vice President, Alstom Power