Save energy, urges Russia and EU

Russia and the European Union on Friday backed energy efficiency measures to save more than 400 million tonnes of oil equivalent each year by 2020 — similar to adding two more Irans to world oil supply.

But the Moscow meeting of Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko, EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Trade Minister Mauri Pekkarinen from EU President Finland recognised there was a “huge mutual challenge” as well as potential.
The European Commission has already unveiled a plan for the EU to cut its own energy use, involving more efficient buildings, cars, power generators and appliances.

A report by a joint EU-Russia energy efficiency working group has said Russia could also halve the energy intensity of its economy by 2020 via similar energy saving programmes and by cutting down on gas flaring and wastage and losses in industry.

The EU and Russian leaders said they had agreed to join their efforts to promote energy efficiency and would use the report as a basis.

Reuters