It is important to recall that the decision that the description of the definitions and classification of energy resources should be covered by SEEA(-E) and not IRES was taken already some years ago, see http://unstats.un.org/unsd/envaccounting/ceea/meetings/UNCEEA_2_10.pdf. In Table 1 on the sharing of tasks between the LG and the OG it is explicitly mentioned that Issues related to mineral and energy asset accounts in physical and monetary terms (e.g. valuation of stocks, classification of mineral and energy resources etc.) is not under the responsibility of the OG.

The Oslo Group is responsible for developing a harmonised system for the collection of energy statistics, both supply and use in an integrated system. OG has had some contact with the ECE group UNFC. We discussed how to build a link between their report/conclusions and official statistics. The LG seemed willing to participate in this together with UNFC group (Ole G. Pedersen volunteered)

If the collection of data items on energy reserves should become an issue for IRES then the responsibility for the discussion has to be some other body than OG, presumably LG together with UNFC.

I would like to take the opportunity to make a few additional remarks in response to the conclusions of the last virtual meeting.

- Chapter 7 and he comments from Statistics Norway on this chapter.
The use of the term 'data sources'

The term 'data sources' is apparently not univocal in itself and gives room to confusion if not clearly defined.
One the one hand it might refer to the origin ('source') of the available information in the "outside world", which can be collected for making statistics by questionnaires or otherwise (administrative data etc). This could be regarded as coming from the 'vocabulary of statisticians'.
One the other hand the term 'data sources' is apparently used in 'ICT-terminology' as data stored in well organised and structured databases, therefore refer to already collected data.

It is obvious that both approaches are different and can cause misunderstanding (for example 'can be collected' or 'already collected').
If we want to use the term 'data sources' in IRES we must carefully choose what we mean by it and define this explicitly.
In our choice we should follow as near as possible the perception of the users of IRES. In my view this will be 'statisticians' in the first place and not 'ICT people', but we can discuss about this of course at the meeting in Cork.


- The role of the concept 'energy balance'

Chapter 8 'Energy balance' mainly deals with output. In this chapter is explained what the added value is if the results of basic energy statistics are presented and published in the form of an energy balance and how this can be done.
Chapter 8 does not deal with the important role of the concept 'energy balance' (=natural relationship between energy variables/flows) in other parts of the production process: data collection, data processing. In fact it is an important ally in all stages of the process of making energy statistics.
To my opinion IRES should recommend to take advantage of the natural relationship between energy variables/flows as much as possible throughout all stages of the production of energy statistics. Chapter 8 is probably the best place to do this, to which can be referred to from other chapters (data collection, data processing).
In my presentation at the meeting in Vienna I mentioned this important role of the concept of energy balance rather briefly, but I could make a presentation on this subject more specific for the next meeting in Cork, if this is regarded to be interesting.


Additional remark

Since a couple of years our statistical office is working on a fundamental process transformation, based on a Business Architecture which regards the statistical process as a chain of successive actions, each of which generates an intermediate product.
At this moment the process of making energy statistics is also being transformed according to this type of Business Architecture. I include a paper, which primary focuses on the role of metadata, but which also describes the new statistical process itself in paragraph 3 and the accompanying scheme on page 3.
I could make a short presentation on this in Cork. Basically as a kind of 'country best practice' (possibly to be included in the ESCM). But perhaps it can also be helpful to structure IRES as transparent and consistent as possible.