Notes from the 1st Meeting of the Stationary Energy and Industrial Processes (SEIP) Technical Advisory Group Wednesday 19th December 2007

Present: Carmen Blackler, Ray Deacon, Stuart Frazer, George Riddell, Ewan Gebbie, Chris Baker, Mark Storey, Dave Brash

  1. The meeting was disrupted because of problems with teleconferencing.  Consequently many callers could not be connected into the meeting.  It was decided to proceed with an abbreviated agenda.
  2. Dave Brash (ETG) suggested that the TAG should have two co-chairs.  One official, one non-official.  Those who would be interested in having the chair role are asked to make contact with Dave Brash as soon as possible.
  3. There was a brief discussion of the TOR.  Scope of the TAG was discussed.  One issue was whether the proposal in the draft legislation to phase out assistance falls within the scope of the TAG’s terms of reference. Officials responded that as this is an issue set out in the draft legislation it is an issue primarily to be addressed in the select committee process. A question was raised as to whether the TAG could review the way the 90% of 2005 emissions was arrived at based on free allocation, competitiveness at risk and stranded assets. The response from officials was that was also an issue set out in the draft legislation and therefore should primarily be addressed in the select committee process.
    Action: ETG to report back to the next meeting with a note on which issues are addressed in the Bill and which issue are not.
  4. Questions were raised about the overall transparency of the process and interface with the climate change leadership forum (CCLF).  Dave Brash indicated that there would be some overlap between the work of the CCLF and that of the TAG, but the respective chairs would seek to minimise this.  It was decided that relevant papers considered by the CCLF would be made available to the TAG members. It was suggested that the TAG needs to have a transparent and open process and to the extent possible circulate all papers to interested parties to ensure we had maximum feedback.
  5. It was agreed that a common workspace for the TAG should be set up to facilitate exchange of information between TAG members.  ETG will set this up. In addition it was proposed that all papers and meeting minutes should be available on an open web site following the meeting in the same way as the EC does with its working groups.  No decision was reached on this.
  6. There was a discussion of the TAG’s relationship with Climate Change Leadership Forum It was indicated that the TAG would have a close working relationship with Cluster B of the Leadership Forum who would be responsible for several tasks related to the TAG areas of expertise. It was also indicated that the TAG would have a working relationship with the agricultural advisory group through our co-chairs.
  7. The TAG was advised that a budget had been provided to allow for the engagement of additional expertise as required. It was also stated that further economic analysis had been commissioned and that it would feed into our process.
  8. A draft Request for Proposal for a project to supply firm level output, employment and emissions data was briefly discussed.  Comments on the RFP were requested by end of day Thursday.  The TAG was advised that the RFP would go out prior to Christmas.  Comments were made that the RFP would have to be amended in reference to the threshold of 50,000 tonnes to reflect that no decision has been made on an appropriate threshold level.
  9. It was agreed that TAG should hold a number of meetings in quick succession early in 2008 and then seek to have meetings on a monthly basis thereafter.  It was proposed that the first meeting be in the week beginning 22nd January 08.  A meeting request will be sent out prior to Christmas.  An agenda and papers for this meeting will be sent out the week beforehand.  A second meeting is provisionally set for the week beginning 4th February. 
  10. A suggestion was made that summary documentation of what was agreed to under the NGA process should be released and made available to TAG members as a basis for the group’s discussion.

Last updated: 15 September 2008