Study Visit on energy statistics and energy balances, 8 - 11 July 2014 – Vienna, Austria

Objective

INOGATE and Statistics Austria (STAT) cooperated to bring together 18 specialists from National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) in nine INOGATE Partner Countries to further improve and enhance the capacity of statistical specialists to produce good quality energy statistics and energy balances in accordance with European and international standards. STAT is well known among EU member countries for its best practices in the compilation of energy statistics and energy balances. To supplement the knowledge and expertise provided by STAT, experts from two other European NSIs were also invited to share their experiences – from Latvia and Croatia. Relevant topics were suggested by the participants – all specialists working with energy statistics and energy balances in the NSIs of INOGATE Partner Countries.

The seminar covered methodology for energy balance compilation, including supply, transformation and consumption, the dissemination and publication of energy data and its quality assessment, which includes relevance, accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, comparability and consistency.

The importance of cooperation among major stakeholders, such as ministries, energy market regulators, and energy and environment agencies, was highlighted by the Austrian colleagues and a visit to the Energy Community Secretariat headquarters provided context for the information presented.

The Head of the Directorate of Spatial Statistics of STAT, Ms. Beata Schmidt, emphasized what an excellent opportunity the event was for the exchange of good practices in compiling energy statistics and energy balances and how it provided a platform to compare political requirements and statistical feasibility taking into account data quality aspects and cost-benefit considerations. Such an event provided new ideas and a new perspective through the participation of various stakeholders.

Ms Milka Mumovic of the Energy Community Secretariat hoped that such an event would lead towards greater regional cooperation and further add to the development and improvement of energy statistics in the region. Participants, 89% of whom evaluated the event as excellent, were urged to share their new knowledge with colleagues upon their return.