March 2017
GUIDELINES FOR THE
2015 UNITED NATIONS
STATISTICS DIVISION
ANNUAL QUESTIONNAIRE
ON ENERGY STATISTICS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Background and reporting instructions ................................................................................................................... 3
Background and purpose ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Reporting instructions ............................................................................................................................................ 3
2. Product definitions .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Coal, Peat and Oil Shale ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Oil ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Natural Gas, Manufactured Gas and Recovered Gas ......................................................................................... 11
Electricity and Heat .............................................................................................................................................. 12
Biofuels and Waste .............................................................................................................................................. 13
3. Flows .................................................................................................................................................................... 16
3.1. Flow definitions ............................................................................................................................................. 16
3.2. Energy industries .......................................................................................................................................... 20
3.3. Transformation processes ............................................................................................................................. 22
3.4. Final consumption by manufacturing, construction and non-fuel mining industry ........................................ 25
3.5. Final consumption by transport ..................................................................................................................... 26
3.6. Final consumption by other ........................................................................................................................... 28
Annex ........................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Annex I – SIEC and Questionnaire product codes .............................................................................................. 29
Annex II – Natural Gas Production....................................................................................................................... 32
Annex III – Electricity and Heat ............................................................................................................................ 33
Annex IV – Conversion of Volume, Mass and Energy Units ................................................................................ 36
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1. Background and reporting instructions
Background and purpose
The UNSD Annual Questionnaire on Energy Statistics (the “Questionnaire”) is part of the UNSD data collection
programme. It covers statistics such as production, transformation and use of energy products in physical and
energy units.
The Questionnaire is the primary source of information for the UNSD Energy Statistics Database and contributes
to the Energy Statistics Yearbook, the Energy Balances and the Electricity Profiles publications. The Energy
Statistics Yearbook is a comprehensive collection of internationally comparable data on the supply of energy. The
Energy Balances present energy data in a format showing an overall picture of energy production, trade,
conversion and consumption for energy products utilized in the country, while Electricity Profiles contains detailed
information on production, trade and consumption of electricity, net installed capacity and thermal power plant
inputs and efficiencies.
Note that starting with the 2011-2012 Annual Questionnaire on Energy Statistics, some changes were made to
align the Questionnaire to the recommendations contained in the International Recommendations for Energy
Statistics (IRES), which was adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission in February 2011, and to
harmonize data collection across international organizations. IRES is available online at
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/energy/ires/default.htm.
The revisions mainly entail the alignment of terminology and products definitions, and the inclusion of additional
flows and products. However, the Energy Questionnaire still adheres to the principle and format of previous
questionnaires, namely a commodity balance format. Notable changes to the Questionnaire are stated in the
sections on Product and Flow definitions of these instructions.
Reporting instructions
The Questionnaire consists of two excel files: "Country Name 2015.xls" which contains the energy statistics for
the country and which has been prefilled with data for the period 2011-2014, and "Conversion Factors 2015.xls"
which contains the questionnaire on the country-specific Calorific Values for selected energy products.
Please note that, while in the past the Questionnaire typically collected new energy statistics for one year, this
cycle countries are allowed to enter data for the last two years (2015 and 2016). Countries are encouraged to
enter 2016 data even if provisional and subject to revision, provided that this is indicated in the Questionnaire
using the letter “P” in the note field. If 2016 data are not yet available, please fill out the Questionnaire with 2015
data and revise 2011-2014 data as necessary.
Data should be reported on the basis of a calendar year. However, if data are reported on the basis of a fiscal
year, please clearly state the beginning and end of the fiscal year used.
Data should be reported in the units specified in the Energy Questionnaire. However, if different units are used,
please clearly indicate them in the file. For your ease of reference, please see Annex IV for detailed information
on the conversion factors between different units of mass, volume and energy, respectively.
Please also indicate the geographic coverage of the data, i.e. if the data include or exclude specific territories or
areas. For example, some countries only include electricity data of specific territories and exclude other energy
data from said territories.
Please indicate with the letter “C” if data cannot be submitted due to reasons of statistical confidentiality. Even
though no actual figures are provided, this information is useful for many users of the statistics, as it indicates that
there was activity but it cannot be reported for a specific reason.
If data are not available, please leave the cell blank.
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Please complete both excel files and e-mail them to: energy_stat@un.org
Any questions concerning the Questionnaire may also be sent by e-mail, fax or regular mail, as provided below.
Mail: Industrial and Energy Statistics Section
United Nations Statistics Division
DC2-1414, 2-UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017, USA
Email: energy_stat@un.org
Fax: +1-212-963-0623
We thank you in advance for your cooperation and support of the UNSD energy statistics data collection
programme.
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2. Product definitions
The Energy Questionnaire collects data by products and flows. For example, data for the supply, trade and use of
electricity are collected. In the Questionnaire the products are arranged as follows: solid products are found first,
followed by oil products, gaseous products, electricity, heat, renewable products, and uranium.
The energy products covered by the UNSD Annual Questionnaire on Energy Statistics are listed below, and
adhere to the order in which the products are arranged in the Questionnaire.
Please note that for each energy product the product code as used in the Questionnaire (two-letter code), and the
Standard International Energy Product Classification (SIEC) code are provided. Please refer to Annex I for the
SIEC and its correspondence to the product codes of the Questionnaire.
Changes in the product coverage since the 2010 UN Questionnaire on Energy Statistics, and reporting
instructions specific to the Questionnaire are provided in boxes, subsequent to the respective product definitions.
Coal, Peat and Oil Shale
Hard coal (CL), SIEC code 01: Coals with a gross calorific value (moist, ash-free basis) which is not less than 24
MJ/kg or which is less than 24 MJ/kg provided that the coal has a Vitrinite mean Random Reflectance greater
than or equal to 0.6 per cent.
Data for Hard coal in the Questionnaire should be the sum of Anthracite, Coking coal and Other
bituminous coal. Prior to the 2011-2012 Questionnaire, data for Anthracite, Coking coal and Other
bituminous coal were not reported separately.
Anthracite (AT), SIEC code 0110: A high-rank, hard coal with a gross calorific value (moist, ash-free basis)
greater than or equal to 24 MJ/kg and a Vitrinite mean Random Reflectance greater than or equal to 2.0 per cent.
Remark: It usually has less than 10 per cent volatile matter, a high carbon content (about 86-98 per cent carbon)
and is non-agglomerating. Anthracite is mainly used for industrial and household heat raising.
Bituminous coal (not included in the Questionnaire), SIEC code 012: A medium-rank hard coal with either a gross
calorific value (moist, ash-free basis) not less than 24 MJ/kg and with a Vitrinite mean Random Reflectance less
than 2.0 per cent, or a gross calorific value (moist, ash-free basis) less than 24 MJ/kg provided that the Vitrinite
mean Random Reflectance is equal to or greater than 0.6 per cent.
Remark: Bituminous coals are agglomerating and have a higher volatile matter and lower carbon content than
anthracite. They are used for industrial coking and heat raising, and household heat raising.
Coking coal (CC), SIEC code 0121: Bituminous coal that can be used in the production of a coke capable of
supporting a blast furnace charge.
Other bituminous coal (OB), SIEC code 0129: Bituminous coal not included under coking coal.
Remark: Sometimes referred to as “steam coal”.
Brown coal (LB), SIEC code 02: Coals with a gross calorific value (moist, ash-free basis) less than 24 MJ/ kg
and a Vitrinite mean Random Reflectance less than 0.6 per cent.
Data for Brown coal in the Questionnaire should be the sum of Sub-bituminous coal and Lignite.
Prior to the 2011-2012 Questionnaire, data for Sub-bituminous coal and Lignite were not reported
separately.
Sub-bituminous coal (SB), SIEC code 0210: Brown coal with a gross calorific value (moist, ash-free basis)
equal to or greater than 20 MJ/kg but less than 24 MJ/kg.