ESMAP Annual Report 1998

This annual report covers the calendar 1998 activities of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP), jointly sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. The report provides an introduction to ESMAP activities, followed by detailed discussions on ESMAP operations: 1) overall energy sector reforms; 2) Energy trade, comprising electricity, primary energy/products, and, biomass/renewables trade; 3) Energy and the environment, reviewing clean air initiatives, and environmental and social impact of hydrocarbon development, among others; 4) energy efficiency; 5) renewable energy; and, 6) rural and peri-urban household energy, focusing on specific applications. The report provides insights regarding on-going and new projects, and publications and Internet web site. As customary, the report contains data on ESMAP Consultative Group and activities during calendar 1998.

The financial position of the Programme is reviewed, providing further information on core and thematic funding, on a new agreement underway with Norway, with a contribution expected by 1999. The Netherlands contributed the total of thematic contributions in 1998, initiating three new umbrella thematic funds, the non-conventional energy fund for Africa, end-use efficiency fund, and fossil energy/environment fund.