Distr.

GENERAL

FCCC/IDR.1(SUM)/SLO

5 June 1997

Original: ENGLISH




SUMMARY

of the

REPORT OF THE IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATION

of

SLOVAKIA







(The full text of the report (in English only) is contained in document FCCC/IDR.1/SLO)







Review team:



Martha Perdomo, Venezuela

Jesper Gundermann, Denmark

Agu Karindi, Estonia

Robert Williams, UNIDO

Mukul Sanwal, UNFCCC secretariat, Coordinator





Also available on the World Wide Web (http://www.unfccc.de)



GE.97-

Summary(1)

1. The in-depth review was carried out between May 1996 and February 1997 and included a visit by the team to Bratislava from 2 to 7 June 1996. The team included experts from Venezuela, Denmark, Estonia and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

2. In its first national communication, Slovakia has followed in general the approved reporting guidelines for national communications. It has also followed, as far as possible, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (1994) in preparing its national inventory of greenhouse gases (GHGs) not controlled by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Slovakia has a national target of reducing by 20 per cent its carbon dioxide emissions in 2005 compared to 1988 levels; it expects its emissions in 2000 to be 16 per cent lower than in 1990. GHG emissions in 1994 were 20 per cent lower than in 1990. Policies and measures are reported in the national communication and are organized by gas and by sector, with a focus on the energy sector. Projections of end-use energy demand by sector, apart from transport, build on the "Energy Strategy and Policy for the Slovak Republic up to the year 2005". The estimates are based on individual sector contributions to gross domestic product (GDP). Though actual developments in some sectors show different trends, the overall trends are in line with the projections.

3. Slovakia has integrated mitigation of greenhouse gases into its energy policy, as well as considering it in conjunction with ongoing measures to reduce transboundary pollution. The energy policy requires energy services to be supplied not only at the minimum price but also with the minimum impact on the environment. The policy includes reducing carbon dioxide emissions, increasing the share of gas in end-use energy and power, conserving energy to decrease fossil fuel consumption, increasing the share of renewable energy and adding nuclear and hydro generating capacity. The Strategy, Principles, and Priorities of Government Environmental Policy, adopted in 1993, based on the concept of sustainable development, are expected to guide the formulation of strategic objectives for the long, medium and short term in the various economic sectors.

4. Slovakia depends on imported energy for nearly 90 per cent of its energy needs. In order to phase out older nuclear units, Slovakia is increasing its nuclear generating capacity with the corresponding decrease in use of fossil fuels. There is a focus on measures to promote energy efficiency and energy conservation in the large industrial units and in residential heating - accounting for three quarters of the energy end-use. Such improvements are feasible and cost-effective, as half of the electricity consumption is in 30 large units; the major barrier is the lack of capital. State subsidies in the energy sector are gradually being reduced. In 1991 the price of household electricity increased by 70 per cent in comparison to the 1989 base year. Furthermore in 1996 the price of household electricity was increased by 10 per cent and for industrial users by 5 per cent on average. The price for industrial users is higher and household are cross-subsidised. Similarly, the price for residential heating is

30 per cent less than heating for industrial use, and continues to be subsidized by the State to the extent of about 50 per cent of costs.

5. In Slovakia, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 1990 were estimated at 58,278 Gg, and removals by sinks at 4,451 Gg. The national communication includes aggregated emission estimates using global warming potentials (GWP), with CO2 emissions contributing 80 per cent of total emissions expressed as CO2 equivalent, methane (CH4) 12 per cent, nitrous oxide (N2O) 7 per cent and indirect GHG nitrogen oxides (NOx),

carbon monoxide (CO), and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) 1 per cent.

6. Though recent growth in GDP (7.4 per cent in 1995) has largely come from the service sector and small and medium-sized units, which are not in relative terms major contributors of GHGs, heavy and energy-intensive industry remains important, including in exports. A national programme to stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transport was adopted in 1995. The share of public transport remains high and there is reduced movement of goods by road; even though the number of passenger cars and gasoline consumption are both expected to increase, emissions of carbon dioxide from the transport sector are not expected to reach 1900 levels by the year 2000. Industrial production and electricity generation remain below 1990 levels, agricultural production has also declined, and GDP is not likely to exceed 1990 levels by 2000.

7. The statistical system in the country has changed over from the previous system of material balances, which did not measure the service sector or make a distinction between end-use of energy and energy transformation and conversion processes. This requires expert judgement to interpret the activity data for 1990, and also makes comparison with data from 1993 onwards difficult.

8. Slovakia provided projections of its energy-related emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O in 2005. Total reductions of CO2 emissions relative to a business-as-usual scenario are estimated to be 5 Gg in 2000 and 15 Gg in 2005, corresponding to about 9 per cent and

27 per cent of levels in 1990, respectively. Of these reductions, roughly 60 per cent is estimated to result from the use of non-fossil fuel sources, while energy savings, including efficiency gains from increased use of combined heat and power and shifts from high to

low-carbon fossil fuels (mainly gas), contribute roughly 20 per cent. In view of the uncertainty over future trends in the economy, assertions in the energy policy are the best available parameters to follow.

9. It was stressed to the review team that the future structure, pattern and pace of economic growth remains uncertain, precluding high levels of certainty in the projections of GHGs emissions. The review team was of the opinion that the national target of a

20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2005 compared to 1988 is likely to be met.



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1. In accordance with decision 2/CP.1 of the Conference of the Parties, the full draft of this report was communicated to the Slovak Government, which had no further comments.