Press Release September 06

Contact: Emily Melton, t: +44 20 7734 5996

Pierre Gadonneix Elected Chair of World Energy Council

Pierre Gadonneix, Chairman and CEO of Electricité de France in Paris, was today elected the next Chair of the World Energy Council (WEC). His selection took place at WEC’s annual Executive Assembly, which is being held this week in Tallinn, Estonia.

Mr. Gadonneix will serve for one year as Chair-elect, assisting current WEC Chair André Caillé in his duties until he formally assumes his role as the 2008-2010 WEC Chair at the 20th World Energy Congress to be held in Rome in November, 2007.

Mr. Gadonneix will lead the 82-year-old World Energy Council during its 2008-2010 work cycle of global studies, technical work and regional programmes. He will also chair the organisation’s 12-member Board of Trustees and serve as a chief spokesperson for WEC.  

Mr. Gadonneix said, “I am honoured by my election as the Chair of WEC, the leading global multi-energy organisation, and I look forward to working with WEC’s members in 94 countries around the globe to meet the energy challenges of today and tomorrow”.

In the Vision Statement he presented to WEC members, Mr. Gadonneix stated, “Energy has never been such a major concern. I see three major global challenges today: the inexorable growth of energy demand and energy accessibility, the greater awareness of energy issues and the unavoidable change in energy mix driven by technological progress. I believe WEC can help provide responses to these challenges; such responses would include urging more efficient use of energy;  keeping all energy options open,  establishing an appropriate institutional framework, mainly to facilitate energy investments, and  defining the appropriate role for public authorities alongside efficient market mechanisms”.

Mr. Gadonneix added,  “During my term as Chair of WEC, I plan to work toward increasing WEC’s visibility and enhancing its role as an essential player in the energy debate. I also want to  encourage  WEC to continue developing solutions to energy challenges and to use its objectivity and reputation to help form public opinion about key energy issues.”

Elected with Mr. Gadonneix as new WEC officers for the 2008-2010 term were Ms. Mary M’Mukindia (National Oil Corporation, Kenya); Chair, Programmes Committee; Ms. Marie-José Nadeau (Hydro Québec, Canada), Chair, Communications & Outreach Committee; Dr. Johannes Teyssen (E.On Energie, Germany), Vice Chair, Europe; and Mr. Elías Velasco Garcia (Union Fenosa, Spain), Vice Chair, Special Responsibility for Investment in Infrastructure.