31 July 1992

42nd plenary meeting

Development of the energy resources of developing countries

The Economic and Social Council,

Reaffirming the critical importance of the development of energy resources of developing countries and the need for measures by the international community to assist and support the efforts of developing countries, in particular the energy-deficient among them, to develop their energy resources in order to meet their needs through cooperation, assistance and investment in the field of conventional and of new and renewable sources of energy, consistent with their national policies, plans and priorities,

Reaffirming also that the developing countries have the primary responsibility for the strategies and policies for exploration and development of their energy resources,

Recognizing the importance of sustainable development,

1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on energy exploration and development trends in developing countries;

2. Reaffirms that an adequate flow of external resources in support of the national efforts of developing countries, in particular the energy-deficient among them, is needed to finance, within the legislative framework of each country, the exploration and development of their energy resources;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the matter under constant review and to submit to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1994 a report on the efforts made in this regard;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 1994 on the role of the United Nations in devising ways and means of mobilizing the international community to increase efforts for comprehensive national, bilateral and multilateral measures to accelerate the exploration and development of energy resources in developing countries, with full respect for their national sovereignty;

5. Further requests the Secretary-General to draw this matter to the attention of the Committee on New and Renewable Sources of Energy and Energy for Development at its first substantive session.