Maria Van der Hoeven took over as Executive Director of the IEA on 1 September 2011. Previously, she served as Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands from 2007 to 2010, and as Minister of Education, Culture and Science from 2002 to 2007. She was an elected member of the Netherlands House of Representatives of the States General from 1991 to 2002.
Q1. What do you hope to achieve in your tenure as Executive Director of IEA
Q2. The IEA recently intervened directly in the oil market for only the third time in its 40-year history, with members releasing reserves in an attempt to drive down high prices. Though this did prompt a fall in the oil price, the effect was short lived. You also recently mentioned that the reserves should not be used to lower oil prices. Would you have done it differently then, and how?
Q3. There have been claims that IEA is too focused on fossil fuels. Given your own personal conviction that energy production and use should be made comprehensively more efficient and cleaner by improving energy efficiency, developing and using renewables, how would you reconcile both aspects?
Q4. You recently said that in your opinion, "it will be very difficult to achieve a clean energy household in 2050 without nuclear energy". With the spectre of the Fukushima incident still looming, there is uncertainty as some countries look to abandon their nuclear ambitions while others continue. What are the pertinent issues that governments need to address as they consider their energy mix?
Q5. A Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed between ASEAN and the IEA at the 29th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, with the objective of strengthening regional cooperation between both parties. How do you plan to engage ASEAN on the challenges of energy security and climate change, against a backdrop of unprecedented economic uncertainty?
MVH:
I will answer your question in two parts.
In relation to ASEAN energy challenges, our 2010 World Energy Outlook estimated that ASEAN's primary energy demand will jump by 84 percent between 2008 and 2035. So, independent of the current global economic uncertainty, ASEAN will face major challenges on the energy front as ASEAN rapidly develops. Secure and sustainable energy, and reducing GHG emissions are key. We are planning two major ASEAN-IEA projects at the moment: Examining how best to assist ASEAN prepare for potential oil supply disruptions, and modelling and analysing future best technologies for the power sectors of ASEAN's member countries. We are happy to consider how our research, statistics, and analysis can be best used to address these pressing challenges to ensure secure and sustainable energy.
BY : EMA Staff