Energy Business Council
Regular consultations with industry make a vital contribution to the IEA’s work on market and policy analysis and development. As the private sector is responsible for the vast bulk of energy investment, it is therefore necessary for governments and industry to work hand-in-hand to create the right framework conditions that will create clear, predictable, long-term economic incentives that empower business to undertake the huge investment programmes required for a cleaner and more efficient energy future. Given the key role industry has to play, the IEA believes there is a clear need to enhance cooperation between the energy sector and energy policy makers.
The establishment of the IEA Energy Business Council (EBC) addresses this need as it seeks to act as a facilitator to ensure the voice of the energy sector is heard in the energy policy debate.
The EBC is an executive-level group that represents a wide variety of companies involved in different aspects of energy exploration, production, transformation and consumption. They range from commodities companies to automobile manufacturers to wind and solar energy producers, as well as industry associations. EBC companies’ operations are international and membership of the group evolves over time according to priority issues and within the IEA.
On the occasion of the launch of the EBC in March 2009, Mr. Nobuo Tanaka, IEA Executive Director, said: “To overcome the pressing global economic and energy challenges we face, business and government must work together. For thirty-five years, the International Energy Agency has provided a forum for governments to cooperate to find solutions, but we have not previously had a CEO-level group that focuses on both demand and supply side energy challenges and will provide feedback to IEA Ministers. That changed today, with the establishment of the IEA Energy Business Council.”
Dr. Fatih Birol, the IEA’s Chief Economist and responsible for the Energy Business Council, noted: “As we look at energy markets and other global issues like climate change, it is vital to have a perspective that transcends borders. These companies offer business expertise and experience from markets around the world that will bring a new perspective as we seek to tackle challenges that affect all of us.”
The EBC will convene twice per year with the overriding objectives of:
- Providing the IEA with a “reality check” of its analysis, ensuring IEA’s main findings make sense from a business perspective
- Establishing a forum for interactive discussions between Ministers and industry leaders aimed to debate which kind of long-term stable policy frameworks are necessary to stimulate investment in sustainable energy infrastructure
- Providing the IEA with advice on how it can improve its communication with the business sector
- EBC meeting in the IEA Ministerial - 18 October 2011
- EBC Meeting - 23 February 2011
Under the theme Co-operating to secure a better energy future the session convened IEA Member Countries Ministers and non Member partner countries Brazil, Chile, China, Estonia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, and the Republic of South Africa - together with around 35 CEOs and top executives of energy producing and consuming companies. A presentation under embargo on key messages in the forthcoming World Energy Outlook 2011 was followed by an interactive debate on topical energy sector issues, such as the likelihood of a golden age of gas. See photos
In 2010, EBC convened once:
- EBC meeting, IEA Headquarters - 18 May 2010
In 2009, EBC convened twice:
- EBC Inaugural meeting – 10 March 2009
- EBC meeting in the IEA Ministerial – 14 October 2009
For more information on the Energy Business Council please write to: Alessandro Blasi