JEA Symposium Guest Speech 

October 26, 2011 / Tokyo Keidanren Kaikan
Japan Energy Association Symposium
“Challenges to Efficient and Clean Use of Coal in Asian Region”

(I.WEC Outline (Objectives. Memberships, organization, standing committees, major activities)

Thank you very much for the kind introduction.  I am delighted to be back in Tokyo and to have this opportunity to speak to such a distinguished audience.
 
Before I begin my prepared remarks, however, I would like to take a moment to extend my condolences to our hosts for the loss of life and to express my regret at the massive destruction of infrastructure that occurred following the "Great East Japan Earthquake" of March 11, 2011.  I sincerely hope that recovery efforts continue to proceed successfully, especially at the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant complex and in other affected areas.
 
The World Energy Council or “WEC,” which I am proud to represent, is a global and inclusive forum for thought leadership and tangible engagement.  Its mission is “To promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all people.”  WEC began in the 1920s, when with admirable foresight, its founder felt the need to gather experts from all around the world to discuss current and future energy issues.  Today, WEC has Member Committees established in over 90 countries, which represent over 3,000 member organizations including governments, industry, and expert institutions.  WEC covers all energy resources and technologies of energy supply and demand.

WEC also offers a wide variety of services, programs, and activities to its members as well as to the energy industry at large and to the general public.  WEC is well known on the global energy scene for its authoritative reports, analyses, research, case studies, medium and long-term energy projections, and policy and strategy recommendations.  The work of the organization spans the entire energy spectrum:  coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, hydro and new and renewable and focuses on such topical areas as market restructuring; energy efficiency; energy and the environment; financing energy systems; energy pricing and subsidies; energy poverty; ethics; benchmarking and standards; use of new technologies; and energy issues in developed, transitional, and developing countries. 

The World Energy Council’s six main Activity Areas address long-term visionary Strategic Insights and immediate outcome-oriented Global and Regional Agendas of a collaborative nature.  These activities are supported by integrated Knowledge Networks.

WEC’s publications include an annual country-by-country Energy and Climate Policy Assessment and the Survey of Energy Resources.

Finally, as part of its partnership program, WEC works closely with numerous governmental and non-governmental energy organizations throughout the world.  Joint studies or regional projects are frequently established with such groups as the World Bank, regional development banks, the OECD’s International Energy Agency, United Nations groupings including FAO, UNDP and such political-economic organizations as the EU, OLADE and ASEAN.  WEC also works closely with the International Chamber of Commerce, other business groups and specialized bodies in such areas as energy efficiency and climate change.

(2.Recent Activities: Rio de Janeiro Energy Leaders Summit)

A little over a month ago WEC’s World Energy Leader’s Summit or “WELS” was held in Rio de Janeiro.  This event is organized twice a year by the World Energy Council for its global energy leaders’ community to enable an ongoing high-level dialogue on critical issues affecting the energy world.   In Rio WEC was proud to play host to Ministers from Algeria and Brazil as well as the Mayor.  In addition, high level executives from companies such as ABB, Alstom, EDF, IBM, Petrobras, Shell, Total and Vestas participated.

In Brazil, the leaders heard that the outlook for the sustainable supply and use of energy has become more uncertain in 2011.  The key messages were drawn from the World Energy Council’s 2011 Global Energy Issues Survey.  This respected survey gathered the views of WEC’s energy leadership community, which is drawn from energy leaders in over 90 countries, to identify key drivers in the Global Energy Agenda.  The survey provides an insight into the critical uncertainties affecting the energy sector, noting key trends and highlighting the areas where action is required to ensure the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all.

(3.New Initiatives in WEC Asia Regions)

Next I would like to turn the Asia, a region, I’m sure, which is of great interest to you all.

Asian countries, especially emerging economies, have experienced a rapidly increasing demand for electricity as a consequence of swift economic growth. To meet incremental demand, Asian economies are relying heavily upon coal and nuclear energy sources, though coal produces more carbon dioxide than the other fossil fuels, and nuclear power generation is apt to cause unexpected safety risks as recently witnessed in the Fukushima power plant accident on March 11 this year.

As an aftereffect of this accident, general awareness of energy has been changing in regards to coal and nuclear energy. However, fossil fuels are a limited resource, and renewable energy is insufficient to relive energy shortages for the time being. The present mix of energy will maintain its status quo.

Against the backdrop, WEC Asia members adopted two new issues “Efficient and Clean Use of Coal (ECUC) in the Asia Region” and “Expansion of Nuclear Power and Human Development in Asia” as the WEC Asia Action Plan at the WEC Asia Regional Meeting on March 25, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Following the guidelines of WEC Asia, the Japanese WEC Member Committee has taken an initiative to form an Assessment team of ECUC, and is now implementing this project, while the Korean Member Committee has asked Asian members to recommend experts in nuclear energy in order to establish a Nuclear Expert Group. It is highly expected that the discussion on two important energy issues will bear fruit, and thus contribute to the solution of Asia’s energy problems in the future.

(4.2013 Daegu Congress)

As I close, I would like to touch on how preparations are going for the 22nd World Energy Congress which is to be held in Daegu, Korea from October 10 to October 19, 2013.

Held every three years, the Congress is the world’s premier international multi-energy forum.  We expect to host more than 5,000 world leaders from the field of energy, industry, governments and international organizations as well as the media, universities and other global institutions. 

Items on the program will focus on current energy-related themes especially those which will impact the future of humankind.  The program features speeches by prominent industry leaders and government officials, interactive discussions, paper presentations, our Future Energy Leaders program, and presentations on the outcomes of WEC projects. 

The theme for 2013 “Securing Tomorrow’s Energy Today” is a timely one and I look forward to your continuing interest in our preparations.

In closing, I would like to extend to all of you my personal invitation to come to Korea and to Daegu in 2013.

Thank you very much.