Ed Miliband, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change visits Moscow October 5-6. During his visit, he will conduct the UK-Russia Energy Dialogue with his counterpart the Russian Minister for Energy, Sergey Shmatko. The dialogue is an annual opportunity for the two countries to discuss key energy security and energy efficiency issues and develop bilateral co-operation in these areas.

 

Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Efficiency

 

On the October 5, after the UK-Russia Energy Dialogue, Mr Miliband and Russian Minister for Energy Sergey Shmatko signed the UK-Russian Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Efficiency.

 

 

We want to continue the constructive Russia/UK dialogue, and this document will deepen, and give a practical dimension to, joint effort in this area. This MoU signifies a step forward in the energy dialogue between our two countries, and is an important milestone in the process of converting shared views on, and concerns about, energy efficiency into measurable actions.

 

During the visit, Ed Miliband will also:

 

• Meet leaders of Russian business, including a visit to MosEnergo Company to see one of the Russian oldest energy companies
• Meet with key interlocutors in the Russian government to discuss climate change and the upcoming Copenhagen negotiations in which Russia and the UK will play key roles
• Speak to students at Moscow State University, on energy policy, economic development and climate change

 

Russia and a global deal

An ambitious deal at Copenhagen is in all our interests and Russia has a key role to play.

 

Russia have suggested that they will commit to a deal, if everyone else does so. Russia currently has one of the most energy intensive economies in the world - more than double the level in the American economy and two thirds higher than the Canadian level despite having a similar climate. The potential for savings - of energy and of money – are enormous. The World Bank estimates that the Russian economy could save 45% of its total primary energy consumption each year, this is equivalent to the entire energy consumption of France.

 

Russia has recently made positive announcements on plans to improve energy efficiency by 40% and to eliminate gas flaring – measures that will not cost the government, and should in fact save or even generate revenue.

 

The President's recent announcement that Russia will reduce emissions by 10%-15% on 1990 levels by 2020 was a positive sign that Russia is moving towards setting comparable targets but there is room to go further.