Energy & Minerals » Energy

In recent years the world has been facing a number of formidable challenges and crises in such diverse fields as energy, food security, environment and climate change, and finances. According to the latest projections, the use of energy is expected to continue to grow up to year 2030, with oil and gas dominating the energy mix. On the demand side, this growth will be dominated by developing countries, especially those with sustained, high growth rates. However, there has emerged growing awareness that stable energy markets and efficient use of energy are imperative to make energy accessible and affordable to a larger share of the world’s ever-increasing population. Cooperation in the field of energy within the D-8 Organization has been one of the priority areas, and the Member Countries have endeavored to explore new ways and means of forging closer cooperation, including in the fields of renewables and minerals. The D-8 community offers huge potentials for new investments and expansion of markets. Cooperation in such areas as capacity building programs, viable financing mechanisms, energy-use efficiency, and sustainability of supply have received increasing attention in more recent years. In enhancing cooperation in these areas, the D-8 has sought to promote closer and more effective modes of liaison between both public and private sectors of the Member Countries, with emphasis on project-oriented mechanisms.

D-8 held four Working Groups on Energy, namely:

  • 1st D-8 Working Group on Energy, 3-5 April 2001 in Abuja, Nigeria;
  • 2nd D-8 Working Group on Energy, 30-31 January 2005 in Tehran, Iran;
  • 3rd D-8 Working Group on Energy, 6-7 July 2006 in Bogor-Indonesia;
  • 4th D-8 Working Group Meeting on Energy, 1-2 June 2008; Cairo-Egypt;

As reflected in the reports of the meetings, the Working Group on Energy has addressed and dealt with a wide range of energy-related issues, including sharing of information and best practices on policies and programs in energy efficiency, energy conservation, energy security, strategic oil stocks, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, alternative/renewable energy technologies, rural electrification, local manufacturing, interconnection experience, and private sector participation. Promotion of closer cooperation on joint research, exploration and production of alternative energy resources, capacity building programs, technical assistance projects, exchange of expertise, and technology transfer between and among member countries have also received growing attention in the work of the Working Group.