Mr. Chairman, Distinguished
Delegates,
It is a pleasure for me
to welcome you to the thirteenth session
of the Working Party on Gas. It is the first
time since my appointment as Executive Secretary
of the Economic Commission for Europe that
I have had the opportunity to address you.
I see that your meeting
is very well attended and it is no wonder,
since the Working Party and its subsidiary
bodies provide a unique forum for UNECE
Governments, gas industries and international
organizations to exchange views, consider
policies and undertake joint projects on
natural gas issues of interest to both governments
and industry. I am grateful to see that
the gas industries are working closely with
the Working Party.
Over the last year, the
Working Party on Gas has had a very active
and full programme of work. Its successful
implementation was due to your active contribution
as well as the efforts of your Chairman
and the Bureau to move forward the programme
of work. This programme is intended to enhance
networking and the exchange of information
and to promote policy dialogue and the integration
of the natural gas industries and natural
gas markets of the UNECE region.
The two Ad Hoc Group of
Experts that work under your guidance, namely
on "Natural Gas Resources" and on the "Supply
and Use of Gas" have also demonstrated excellent
results over the years.
The Group on the Supply
and Use of Gas, which meets right after
the session of the Working Party, will consider
and eventually approve consolidated reports
on two important projects related to norms
and standards, namely on "Technological
and ecological norms related to the operation
of gas distribution networks" and on "Standards
on permissible concentrations of harmful
components during gas combustion". There
will also be a lecture on new technologies
applied in the diagnostics of gas transmission
lines, which is closely related to natural
gas and the environment. In the past, this
Group has contributed to the implementation
of major regional studies, such as "Interconnection
and Extension of Gas Networks in Europe"
and "Underground Storage of Gas in Europe
and Central Asia".
The programme of work
of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on Natural
Gas Resources is dedicated to upstream activities
of the gas industry, e.g. those related
to prospecting, exploration and development
of gas fields. These topics are crucial
not only for the successful performance
of the gas industry but also for sustainable
development. Among the major projects underway
by this Group can be mentioned the "International
Map of Gas Fields in Europe", "New Methods
of Gas Exploration" and the "Assessment
of Natural Gas Resources".
However, we have noted,
with regret, that in recent years only a
small number of delegations have been attending
annual sessions of this Group and contributions
by national experts to the implementation
of projects have not always been sufficient
and complete. In the light of this, the
continuation of this Ad Hoc Group of Experts
and its programme of work has been called
into question. At its twenty-fifth session
held last June in Geneva, delegations could
not come to a final decision with regard
to the future of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts.
They requested the Working Party to do so.
I hope that you will thoroughly consider
the issue and will take the appropriate
decision on the matter.
Nine years ago, in January 1994, your Working
Party approved and established a technical
cooperation programme, which is widely known
today as the UNECE Gas Centre. During the
first few years of operations, it contributed
considerably to the efforts of the formally
planned economies to adapt and convert their
gas industries to market conditions. Today,
it is actively involved in issues related
to the process of opening up and liberalizing
gas markets as well as enhancing overall
cooperation on natural gas matters in the
region. Yesterday, there was a meeting of
the Executive Board of the Gas Centre, which
approved its budget and programme of work
for the year 2003. Most of the gas companies
represented in this room are members of
the Gas Centre and help to implement its
programme of work. I would like to take
this opportunity to thank the many companies,
organizations and governments for their
valuable contribution to the work of the
Gas Centre.
As indicated in the agenda
of the meeting, delegations will make statements
and give preliminary results of the gas
industry and gas markets operations in 2002
in their countries. It would be also interesting
to learn of the new policies, including
environmental policies, conservation programmes
and new international projects applied by
the gas industries.
A representative from
the Energy Charter Secretariat will make
a presentation on the Euro-Asian natural
gas market and reflect on the outcome of
the recent negotiations on the Energy Charter
Protocol on Transit. We will also have an
update of the energy and gas market developments
in North America, e.g. US and Canada. Representatives
of various international organizations will
present the results of their activities
in the field of gas, including use of gaseous
fuels for transportation. A representative
of the Vernadsky Foundation will report
on the progress achieved in the implementation
of the intersectoral ECE project "Blue Corridor".
Today, energy markets
in Europe, and gas markets in particular,
are undergoing major changes. The opening
up and liberalization of gas markets, the
implementation of the EU Gas Directive,
fluctuating oil prices, secure energy supplies
and, finally, the recent decision by the
EU on the enlargement of its membership
- these are the issues that attract attention
not only of energy experts, but politicians
in Europe as well. The UNECE is an ideal
forum for policy dialogue on these topics,
since it gives an opportunity for countries
and experts, sometimes with different, or
conflicting interests, to discuss and exchange
views on various issues.
I am therefore pleased
to note that in a few minutes you will have
an excellent opportunity to welcome at this
podium a group of very eminent and distinguished
experts who will be panellists for the Round
Table on a "Wider Europe and New Challenges
for the Energy Sector". This Round Table
is the first in a series of events to be
organized by the Economic Commission for
Europe this year, on different sectoral
issues, and which will culminate with one
or more wrap up sessions (e.g., Seminars
or Conferences) on this topic.
As you see, you have a
heavy and interesting agenda ahead of you,
and I would like to close by wishing you
a very successful session and by thanking
all of you for your participation and the
very valuable support given to the Working
Party over the years.
Thank you for your attention.
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