The
successes of the BRICS countries can become a powerful political and economic
force in the global energy sector. The development of the countries' energy
sector requires integration into a single energy supply network and the
development of a joint energy strategy. Investments in green energy remain
insufficient, which requires greater efforts in this respect. The development
of nuclear energy and the introduction of new technologies can be the key to
solving these problems. BRICS countries should focus on building value chains
in the energy sector. Increased cooperation in the field of sustainable
development and energy will open new opportunities for all participants. This
conclusion was reached by the participants of the session “Meeting of BRICS
Energy Ministers” at the Russian Energy Week 2024 (REW).
KEY CONCLUSIONS
BRICS energy cooperation continues to gain momentum
“Russia has
been consistently advocating and putting a lot of efforts to strengthen and
develop the energy dialogue within the BRICS framework. Undoubtedly, our
countries play a crucial role in the global energy agenda, occupying leading
positions both in the field of conventional energy and renewable energy
sources,” Sergey Tsivilev, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.
Greater attention of the BRICS countries to addressing the challenges of
energy transition
“Our
countries are trying to address the challenges of balance and energy
transition. We must ensure that this transition guarantees energy sovereignty
and security as part of sustainable development, supports universal access to
all resources, and ensures that all imperatives on this track are addressed,”
Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy of the Republic of
South Africa.
BRICS countries see the potential of unification for energy development
"It is
indeed an honour for me to be here with you today as we address serious issues
related to green technologies, renewable energy and other things. Egypt has
concluded many bilateral agreements with BRICS countries, including Russia. We
have a nuclear power project to be implemented by 2030. <...> We are
going to cooperate with Saudi Arabia, China and other countries. We have a lot
of plans. We are going to focus on renewable sources that are available in
Egypt. We currently have about 8
gigawatts in our grid. And by 2030, we hope to see 42% more green energy in our
country. Of course, there are serious
difficulties and challenges. And of course, 42% by 2030 is very challenging, so
we will have to stabilize our grid. But this will only be possible through
cooperation with other member countries. So we rely on you very much,” Mahmoud
Mustafa Kamal Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of the Arab
Republic of Egypt.
“Iran has
the world's second largest gas reserves and large oil reserves. <...> Iran
has significant capabilities in terms of producing electrical equipment in the
fields of distribution, transmission and production of TPPs with high
efficiency and renewable hydroelectric power plants, refineries and
petrochemical plants. And it can interact and cooperate with BRICS countries in
this field,” Abbas Aliabadi, Minister of Energy of the Islamic Republic of
Iran.
Expanding cooperation in the field of energy and sustainable development
“Our
discussions today focus on several critical areas, including the ongoing energy
transition and advances in energy efficiency technologies and strategies. The
importance of these topics cannot be overstated as they play a key role not
only in the economic growth of our countries but also in the well-being of our
communities and the health of our planet. Moving forward, let us take
inspiration from the remarkable progress we have made together. The BRICS
Energy Research Cooperation Platform plays a critical role in facilitating
knowledge sharing and collaborative research, allowing us to share best
practices and innovations,” Sharif Salim Ahmad Mohamedsharif Al Olama, Undersecretary
for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the
United Arab Emirates.
PROBLEMS
Lack of integrated energy supply network
“We must
address the absence or lack of an integrated energy supply network. In this
case, we must also work on developing infrastructure, transferring technology
and intellectual property, expanding energy efficiency, mobilizing finance and
investment, and developing staff and highly skilled employees,” Kgosientsho Ramokgopa,
Minister of Electricity and Energy of the Republic of South Africa.
Prospects for the development of a unified BRICS energy strategy
“In the long
run, I believe it is very important to create a unified BRICS energy strategy,”
Sergey Tsivilev, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.
Insufficient attention to energy security
“For
Brazil, energy transition and energy security are two sides of the same coin.
And that is why we insist on a balanced approach to the challenges facing the
world today. We must recognize the need to accelerate the transition caused by
climate change and also to have a necessarily streamlined approach to this
transition, in order not to sacrifice the stability of the economy, to have
universal access to energy, to maintain the role of fuels in the transition
and, therefore, to maintain energy security,” Rodrigo de Lima Baena Soares,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of
Brazil to the Russian Federation.
SOLUTIONS
Promoting technological cooperation to enhance technological sovereignty
of the BRICS countries
“Building technological sovereignty
is a process that cannot be realized in a single country. This requires
international cooperation,” Sergey Tsivilev, Minister of Energy of the Russian
Federation.
Clear positioning in the development of nuclear power and technologies
“We must
make clear our collective position within developing countries to help harness
further energy resources through innovative technologies that will enable us to
move from inefficient, high-emissions energy use to carbon neutrality. In this
regard, we would like to reiterate that our approach to an inclusive and
people-centered energy transition will ensure the security of the energy sector
and support the achievement of socio-economic goals,” Kgosientsho Ramokgopa,
Minister of Electricity and Energy of the Republic of South Africa.
Development of BRICS energy systems
“In 2021, the association [BRICS. – Ed.]
accounted for about half of both global primary energy consumption and
production. In addition, according to Russian experts’ forecasts, by 2050 our
countries will provide half of the world’s energy production and consumption,”
Sergey Tsivilev, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.
Promoting cooperation among the BRICS countries in the energy sector
“Through our efforts, we [BRICS countries. – Ed.]
have become key players in addressing pressing issues such as climate change,
energy access and transition to cleaner energy sources,” Sharif Salim Ahmad
Mohamedsharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates.
Investing in green energy
"In
2023, we invested USD 676 billion in energy transition. This is more than any
other country. <...> China's new green energy is boosting the global
economy, including by lowering inflation. China is continuously pursuing
cooperation with other countries. It is currently cooperating on green projects
with more than 100 countries. All these projects are related to hydropower, new
energy sources and so on. In 2023, China continued to export wind energy and
solar energy. All this has helped reduce carbon emissions by 810 million
tonnes. <...> China continues to cooperate within the BRICS in this
field, encouraging and facilitating cooperation on green technologies,” Song
Hongkun, Deputy Director of the National Energy Administration of China.
* This is a
translation of material that was originally generated in Russian using
artificial intelligence.
For more
information, visit the Roscongress Foundation’s Information and Analytical
System at roscongress.org
