International Energy Agency
THE International Energy Agency (IEA) is based in Paris and acts as energy policy advisor to 28 member countries - including Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand - in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens.
Founded by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) during the oil crisis of 1973-74, the IEA’s initial role was to co-ordinate measures in times of oil supply emergencies. As energy markets have changed, so has the IEA. Its mandate has broadened to incorporate the “Three E’s” of balanced energy policy making: energy security, economic development and environmental protection.
Current work focuses on climate change policies, market reform, energy technology collaboration and outreach to the rest of the world, especially major consumers and producers of energy like China, India, Russia and the OPEC countries.
With a staff of around 190, mainly energy experts and statisticians from its 28 member countries, the IEA conducts a broad programme of energy research, data compilation, publications and public dissemination of the latest energy policy analysis and recommendations on good practices.
Until recently, it did not study nuclear power in detail, except as a contribution to the overall energy balance and economy. Nuclear power is also covered by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the OECD and the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations.
IEA member countries are required to maintain total oil stock levels equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports. At the end of June 2007, IEA member countries held a combined stockpile of almost 4.1 billion barrels of oil, 1.5 billion of which governments control for emergency use. Almost 1.6 billion barrels were held in the form of petrol products which need no further processing.
The executive director of the IEA is Nobuo Tanaka. The IEA website is at www.iea.org/
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