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New
Release -- Superconductor Week does not edit or endorse the following
news release: United
States-Japan Cooperation on Energy Security
Washington, D.C., January 11, 2007: The United States and Japan are
committed to strengthening the energy security of both countries as two major
economic powers and energy consumers. Both sides recognize that improving
energy efficiency and diversifying their energy mix - making wider use of clean
and alternative energy, such as clean use of coal, nuclear energy and renewables,
improving the investment climate in energy producing countries and engaging
emerging economies are essential for ensuring the mutual energy security of the
United States and Japan and addressing global climate change. Samuel W. Bodman,
Secretary of Energy of the United States of America, and Akira Amari, Minister
of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, therefore met in Washington on January
9, 2007, to review their current and prospective cooperative activities in the
energy field.
I. Diversifying Energy Mix
Nuclear Power: The United States and Japan have significant, longstanding
nuclear cooperation and recognize that continued cooperation in the nuclear
energy area would contribute to energy security, nuclear nonproliferation and
addressing global climate change.
Both sides are committed to collaboration on the various aspects of the civilian
nuclear fuel cycle. The United States and Japan will jointly develop a civil
nuclear energy action plan that will provide a framework for collaboration. The
plan will place focus on: ( a ) research and development activities under the
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership initiative that will build upon the
significant civilian nuclear energy technical cooperation already underway; ( b
) collaboration on policies and programs that support the construction of new
nuclear power plants; and ( c ) regulatory and nonproliferation-related
exchanges. The plan will be completed by April 2007.
Clean Coal: With a common understanding that further promotion of research and
development of clean coal technologies and their dissemination is an urgent task
in addressing global environmental issues, both sides welcome the intention of
the Japanese government to actively participate in the FutureGen Project, a
United States-sponsored initiative to construct the world’s first emission-free
coal fired electricity generation plant. Japan will make contributions in the
forms of expertise, funding, and information exchange on carbon capture and
sequestration technology.
Both sides share the interest in accelerating the ongoing research, development
and dissemination of clean coal technologies, such as Integrated Gasification
Combined Cycle ( IGCC ) and Carbon Capture and Storage by promoting bilateral
exchange of information between public and private sectors through the APP.
Methane Hydrates: In addition to the ongoing cooperation among the United
States and Japanese researchers, both sides will continue their information
exchange on methane hydrates. Given the complicated variability associated with
methane hydrate R&D, enhanced cooperation specifically in the areas of
production testing and detection will substantially accelerate the feasibility
of commercial methane hydrate production.
Renewable Energy: Renewable energy is among the key alternatives to traditional
fossil fuels. International cooperation to accelerate the use of renewable
energy is already underway, for example, in the IEA, APEC, and the APP. The
United States and Japan recognize the great potential of renewables and have
made significant strides in deployment of these technologies, as evidenced by
Japan’s investment in grid-connected solar photovoltaics and the increase in
U.S. production of biofuels. In the area of biofuels, production from
cellulosic feedstocks presents significant opportunities for limiting oil use
and carbon emissions but requires further R&D efforts before becoming
cost-competitive. The United States and Japan may therefore explore ways to
enhance exchange of information on the technology for production of biofuels
from such cellulosic feedstocks.
II. Improving Energy Efficiency: Both sides recognize that energy conservation
and efficiency provide many of the most cost-effective ways to enhance energy
security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the view to improving the
efficiency of energy use, the United States and Japan will enhance the exchange
of information on good practices in both public and private sectors.
Both sides also recognize that the APP and the collaborative efforts it has
catalyzed between the government and business community provide a successful
example of technology-focused, public-private partnership, and encourage its
greater political momentum. Accordingly, both sides will continue to support
the APP activities. The United States and Japan support efforts by the IEA in
developing energy efficiency indicators and compiling best practices, which will
provide useful inputs to the APP.
III. Improving Investment Climate in Energy Producing Countries: The United
States and Japan share concerns about impediments in energy producing countries
to the significant new investment needed to meet world wide growing energy
demand. Both sides will therefore continue to encourage energy producing
countries to improve their investment climate in the ways that were endorsed by
the G8 Leaders in the St. Petersburg Plan of Action on Global Energy Security.
Specifically, the United States and Japan will endeavor to enhance understanding
that foreign investments in upstream sectors are beneficial for energy producing
and consuming countries alike; to encourage transparent, equitable, stable and
effective legal and regulatory frameworks; and to emphasize the obligation of
all countries to uphold the sanctity of contracts.
IV. Engaging Emerging Economies: Both sides recognize that the engagement of
emerging economies, particularly China and India, is crucial for ensuring global
energy security. Integrating these growing energy consumers into the global
energy market and promoting responsible market-based policies and energy use
will be a priority for both countries. Both sides therefore agree to strengthen
their cooperation with China and India with particular focus on energy
efficiency and emergency preparedness. The Five-Country Energy Ministers’
meeting in December 2006 ( in which ministers from China, India, Japan, Korea
and the United States participated ) was a good example of coordinated
engagement efforts by the United States and Japan. Both sides also agree to
ensure close cooperation and coordination in working with China and India
through their respective bilateral dialogue with these countries and
multilateral fora including APEC, the IEA, and the APP.
Recognizing that there is substantial potential for improving energy efficiency
in China and India, both sides agree to strengthen their cooperation for
institutional and capacity building in this area and to encourage market-based
pricing in these countries as a prerequisite for energy conservation and
efficiency and investment in conventional and alternative energies.
Noting the efforts by China and India to build the strategic oil reserves and
recognizing that internationally coordinated emergency response will
substantially enhance their effectiveness, both sides will continue to encourage
China and India to align with the IEA in such emergency response measures as a
stock draw-down and demand restraint at the time of any supply disruption.
The cooperative activities highlighted above reflect the breadth of challenges
that the United States and Japan share in enhancing energy security. The two
countries also have a great deal of expertise to offer in a range of energy
technology fields. Through the commitment to facilitating cooperation in the
areas of energy security and technology options, both sides further strengthen
the ongoing efforts to enhance energy security, the environment and sustainable
economic development in the world.
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