Mitigating Vulnerability to High and Volatile Oil Prices

Mitigating Vulnerability to High and Volatile Oil Prices
Author: Rigoberto Ariel Yépez-García
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 182
Release: 2012-07-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821395785

This book addresses the need of oil-importing countries to mitigate vulnerability to oil price volatility. It offers financial instruments to manage price risk, complemented by structural measures designed to reduce oil consumption.

Unveiling the Natural Gas Opportunity in the Caribbean

Unveiling the Natural Gas Opportunity in the Caribbean
Author: Ariel Yépez-García
Publisher: Inter-American Development Bank
Total Pages: 73
Release: 2019-05-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

This study describes the options for introducing natural gas in the Caribbean region and includes an economic assessment of the cost of natural gas to each of the countries. The natural gas can provide a feasible alternative to reduce fuel oil dependency in the Caribbean and alleviate pressures that increase electricity prices by introducing an additional energy source. This paper analyzes the natural gas demand, costs, the possible competitive market alternatives for the successful development of natural gas import facilities in the region, and a brief analysis of the existing regulatory frameworks in the Caribbean for electricity and gas. The results find that a switch from fuel oil to natural gas could reduce the average cost of generation between 17 and 40%, increasing energy affordability for end users, and contributing to increase access to public services and reduce poverty.

Mitigating Vulnerability to High and Volatile Oil Prices

Mitigating Vulnerability to High and Volatile Oil Prices
Author: Rigoberto Ariel Yépez-García
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 183
Release: 2012-06-21
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821395777

The unprecedented rise in world oil prices over the past decade has created greater economic uncertainty and higher risk introduced by oil price volatility. Countries with a high proportion of oil in their primary energy supply are especially vulnerable. At both macro and micro levels, such countries may suffer serious effects, ranging from short-term to permanent changes that hinder potential growth and international competitiveness. Mitigating Vulnerability to High and Volatile Oil Prices: Power Sector Experience in Latin America and the Caribbean offers an assessment of how these countries can better cope with high and volatile oil prices. The book first analyzes the economic effects of high and volatile prices on oil-importing countries, with emphasis on power sector experience in Latin America and the Caribbean. Second, it proposes complementary measures that can be applied using a multi-horizon strategy. To manage price risk, various physical and financial hedging tools are available to governments of oil-importing countries. To reduce oil dependence over the longer term, the book proposes implementing three structural measures: a more diversified electricity generation matrix, better energy efficiency in electricity production and use, and regional integration with more diversified power systems. Finally, the book quantifies some of the macro- and micro-level benefits that could result from implementing these measures. In the subregions examined, significant savings in the cost of fuel purchases-up to 5 percent of gross domestic product-could accrue to heavily oil-dependent countries. The aggregate effect would not only be a reduction in energy expenditures. It would mean less vulnerability to the impact of high and volatile oil prices. While much of the book's analysis refers to Central America and the Caribbean, the underlying principles of the policy recommendations can be applied to any oil-importing country seeking to mitigate vulnerability to high and volatile oil prices.

Climate Change Public Expenditure and Institutional Review Sourcebook (CCPEIR)

Climate Change Public Expenditure and Institutional Review Sourcebook (CCPEIR)
Author: Adrian Fozzard
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 257
Release:
Genre:
ISBN:

This Climate Change Public Expenditure and Institutional Review Sourcebook (CCPEIR) seeks to provide practitioners with the tools and information needed to respond to the public expenditure policy and management challenges arising from climate change. It is a series of notes and supporting materials written as a first step towards consolidating current research and international experience, identifying emerging practice and providing practical and applicable guidance for staff of central finance agencies, development agencies, environmental agencies and other international organizations working on climate change issues. In addition to emphasizing the importance of strengthening national systems throughout, the Sourcebook focuses on the specific public expenditure policy and management challenges posed by climate change, such as decision-making in the face of uncertain future climate conditions, expenditure planning for extreme weather and climate events, the lack of agreed budget definition and classification of climate change activities.

Fiscal Management in Resource-Rich Countries

Fiscal Management in Resource-Rich Countries
Author: Rolando Ossowski
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 180
Release: 2016-06-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464804966

The extractive industries (EI) sector occupies an outsize space in the economies of many developing countries. Policy makers, economists, and public finance professionals working in such countries are frequently confronted with issues that require an in-depth understanding of the sector, its economics, governance, and policy challenges, as well as the implications of natural resource wealth for fiscal and public financial management. The objective of the two-volume Essentials for Economists, Public Finance Professionals, and Policy Makers, published in the World Bank Studies series, is to provide a concise overview of the EI-related topics these professionals are likely to encounter. This second volume, Fiscal Management in Resource-Rich Countries, addresses critical fiscal challenges typically associated with large revenue flows from the EI sector. The volume discusses fiscal policy across four related dimensions: short-run stabilization, the management of fiscal risks and vulnerabilities, the promotion of long-term sustainability, and the importance of good public financial management and public investment management systems. The volume subsequently examines several institutional mechanisms used to aid fiscal management, including medium-term expenditure frameworks, resource funds, fiscal rules, and fiscal councils. The volume also discusses the earmarking of revenue, resource revenue projections as applied to the government budget, and fiscal transparency, and outlines several fiscal indicators used to assess the fiscal stance of resource-rich countries. The authors hope that economists, public finance professionals, and policy makers working in resource-rich countries—including decision makers in ministries of finance, international organizations, and other relevant entities—will find the volume useful to their understanding and analysis of fiscal management in resource-rich countries.

Energy Subsidies in Latin America and the Caribbean

Energy Subsidies in Latin America and the Caribbean
Author: Mr.Gabriel Di Bella
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 79
Release: 2015-02-12
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1498338909

The oil price decline creates an opportunity to dismantle energy subsidies, which escalated with high oil prices. This paper assesses energy subsidies in Latin America and the Caribbean—about 1.8 percent of GDP in 2011–13 (approximately evenly split between fuel and electricity), and about 3.8 percent of GDP including negative externalities. Countries with poorer institutions subsidize more. Energy-rich countries subsidize fuel more, but low-income countries are more likely to subsidize electricity, as are Central America and the Caribbean. Energy subsidies impose fiscal costs, hurting SOEs, competitiveness, and distribution. The paper overviews country experience with subsidy reform, drawing lessons.

Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic Digestion
Author: Rajesh Banu
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2019-09-04
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1838818499

Recent advances in technology to recover bioenergy from various feedstocks make them suitable alternatives to fossil fuel. This book contains several scientific discussions regarding microbes involved in biogas production, the anaerobic digestion process, their operation, and application for sustainable development. The book provides in-depth information about anaerobic digestion for researchers and graduate students. The editor sincerely thanks all the contributors, whose efforts have brought this book to fruition.

Morocco

Morocco
Author: International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 55
Release: 2013-05-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484315081

Morocco has made substantial progress in increasing inclusive growth over the past decade, but additional efforts in terms of growth-enhancing structural reforms are needed. Preserving economic efficiency and fostering growth while strengthening inclusiveness remains a priority. This paper describes the fuel subsidy system in Morocco, introduces an organizing framework to illustrate the trade-offs involved in meeting various economic and social objectives when considering subsidy reform, and highlights some lessons from the international experience in implementing subsidy reforms that may be pertinent to the case of Morocco.

Sustainable Energy for All 2013-2014

Sustainable Energy for All 2013-2014
Author: International Energy Agency (IEA) International Energy Agency (IEA)
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 292
Release: 2014-01-08
Genre: Renewable energy sources
ISBN: 1464802009

A team of energy experts from 15 agencies worked under the leadership of the World Bank and the International Energy Agency to produce this comprehensive snapshot of the status of more than 170 countries with respect to energy access, action on energy efficiency and renewable energy, and energy consumption. The report’s framework for data collection and analysis will enable us to monitor progress on the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) objectives from now to 2030. The report also shows how different countries can boost progress toward sustainable energy. Reaching universal energy access depends decisively on actions in some 20 "high-impact" countries in Africa and Asia. Attaining the global objectives for energy efficiency and renewable energy hinges on efforts in some 20 developed and emerging economies that account for 80 percent of global energy consumption. Finally, the report identifies a number of "fast-moving" countries whose exceptionally rapid progress on the triple energy agenda since 1990 provides not just inspiration, but know-how that can help us replicate their success elsewhere.

Fiscal and Welfare Impacts of Electricity Subsidies in Central America

Fiscal and Welfare Impacts of Electricity Subsidies in Central America
Author: Marco Antonio Hernández Oré
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2017-10-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464811059

Central American countries spend approximately one percent of their aggregate gross domestic product subsidizing residential electricity consumption. This amount is comparable with what these countries spend on education and social assistance. The pressure that electricity subsidies exert on government budgets is particularly high when international energy prices rise. Electricity subsidies also provide perverse incentives for the overconsumption of electricity as households do not pay the true cost of their consumption, which in turn reduces incentives to increase energy efficiency. This book answers key questions regarding residential electricity subsidies in Central America. In particular: How do the subsidy mechanisms function in each country? What are their fiscal costs? Are these subsidies good value for the money? How efficient are subsidies in reaching households in need, and what drives this efficiency? What are the reform options? The main message of this book is that there is considerable scope for improving the efficiency of electricity subsidies in Central America by better targeting them to low-income households. The book shows that electricity subsidies help reduce the burden of electricity costs on the lowest-income groups. However, the existing electricity subsidy schemes are very inefficient at targeting resources to low-income households, with the majority of government spending going to higher-income households. Indeed, most countries in the region have the opportunity to significantly reduce the fiscal costs of electricity subsidies without imposing significant costs on households, particularly poor households. Given the limited fiscal space in the region and the major needs of the countries in terms of social services and physical infrastructure, this study seeks to provide Central American policymakers with the analytical foundations necessary to assess the costs and benefits of their electricity subsidy mechanisms, and design effective reform strategies that reflect their unique circumstances and policy priorities.