22 May 1989

12th plenary meeting

Development of energy resources and efficient use of energy production and utilization infrastructures

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 40/208 of 17 December 1985 on the development of the energy resources of developing countries,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 43/193 of 20 December 1988, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to outline a programme of action aimed at accelerating the exploration and development of the energy resources of developing countries,

Recalling further its resolution 1987/10 of 26 May 1987 on the application of microcomputer technology in the assessment and development of natural resources and energy,

Considering that the Committee on Natural Resources at its tenth and eleventh sessions focused on water and mineral resources, respectively, and that such practice has improved the work of the Committee,

1. Decides that the Committee on Natural Resources at its twelfth session shall give priority consideration to energy resources, emphasizing the need to intensify technical co-operation programmes aimed at the exploration, development and efficient utilization of the energy resources of the developing countries, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Committee at that session a report on the question of technical co-operation programmes in energy resources;

2. Reaffirms the need for the United Nations system to intensify its efforts to promote the international exchange of experience and knowledge and the flow of efficient technologies, especially new and emerging ones, particularly to developing countries, for use in the exploration and exploitation of energy resources, and to actively pursue the establishment of computer-based national information systems on energy technologies and projects, as well as other information for energy policy analysis and energy sector management;

3. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on trends and salient issues in energy resources and requests him to submit to the Committee on Natural Resources at its twelfth session a report on trends and salient issues in energy, including the potential of development and utilization of the natural gas, heavy crude, tar sand, oil shale and geothermal resources available in the developing countries, including prospects for subregional, regional and interregional co-operation in that area;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Committee on Natural Resources at its twelfth session a report on energy-saving strategies and measures to improve the efficient utilization of the electricity system, on power-loss reduction and the upgrading of electricity generation plants, including the level of investment required, as well as other possible options, such as small hydropower stations, to overcome the lack of electrical power in the developing countries.