Memorandum of Understanding

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
AMONG
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES OF CANADA
AND
THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES
CONCERNING COOPERATION ON ENERGY INFORMATION

The Department of Energy of the United States of America, the Department of Natural Resources of Canada, and the Ministry of Energy of the United Mexican States, hereinafter referred to as the “Participants”:

NOTING the longstanding and productive integration of energy markets across North America;

RECALLING previous initiatives to promote energy regional cooperation and integration, such as the North American Working Group, the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America in 2005, and the Agreement among the Government of the United States of America, the Government of Canada and the Government of the United Mexican States for Cooperation in Energy Science and Technology done at Victoria, British Columbia on July 23, 2007, among other joint efforts;

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the results of the last North American Leaders’ Summit, held in Toluca, Mexico in February 2014, where energy was emphasized as a trilateral priority;  

CONSIDERING that close economic integration, geographic proximity, energy potential, infrastructure, and common perspectives support their strong collaboration on matters of energy information transparency;

NOTING that fundamental shifts in North American and global energy production and consumption are occurring;

RECOGNIZING that by acting together, they may improve information on North American energy flows, as well as the quality, timeliness and transparency of energy data;

GUIDED by a mutual commitment to collecting, analyzing, and disseminating accurate and timely energy information; and

SHARING an interest in expanding their energy collaboration,

Have reached the following understanding:

1. PURPOSE

   This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creates a framework for consultation and cooperation on sharing publicly available energy information among the Participants, with the purpose of setting the stage for dialogue, comparisons and deliverables on each of the Participant’s energy outlooks and information.

2. SCOPE OF PLANNED INFORMATION SHARING AND OUTLOOK

   This MOU covers information, data, maps and statistics that are publicly available, and excludes any information considered confidential, strategic or fundamental for national security and sovereignty reasons.

3. PLANNED AREAS OF COOPERATION

   The Participants understand that cooperative activities under this MOU, in subject areas within each Participant’s respective purview, are intended to include:

   1. systematically comparing respective import and export information on energy flows to validate publicly available data and improve data quality;
   2. sharing publicly accessible geospatial information relating to utility infrastructure, such as pipelines, transmission lines, power plants (fossil, nuclear and renewable), refineries, and oil and natural gas wells;
   3. exchanging views and projections for cross-border flows of natural gas, electricity, crude oil and refined products;
   4. developing a cross reference for terminology commonly used in the energy sector with a view toward harmonization of terms, concepts and definitions for energy products and flows, or understanding their differences; and
   5. other areas that they may jointly decide upon in writing.
4. FORMS OF COOPERATION
   1. The Participants understand that cooperative activities may include consultations in person and electronically, technical events, meetings, workshops, conferences, and exchanges of personnel, survey results, and reports.
   2. Cooperative activities under this MOU are intended to complement the Participants’ respective programs in order to make effective use of resources and capabilities across governments.
5. FINANCING

   Unless the Participants decide otherwise in writing, each Participant intends to pay the costs it incurs in conducting activities under this MOU.

6. VISITS AND COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES
   1. Each Participant seeks to assist other Participants’ personnel with the host country’s applicable entry and exit procedures.
   2. The Participants understand that the personnel they each assign to participate in the cooperation activities are to remain employees of, and under the direction and control of, the sending Participant.
7. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
   1.  This MOU is not legally binding.
   2. Each Participant seeks to identify a primary point of contact for the implementation of this MOU, within 45 days of its signature, and inform other Participants in writing of this designation. 
   3. The Participants seek to ensure their primary points of contact to provide a joint report, not later than 180 days after the cooperative activities under this MOU have commenced, documenting progress that has been made in each of the areas for cooperation described in paragraph 3.  The progress report may include recommendations for additional collaboration and further plans for periodic reporting.
   4. Each Participant may invite additional agencies or organizations to participate in the cooperative activities conducted under this MOU, at its own expense and on such terms as the inviting Participant may determine.
   5. Cooperation under this MOU is expected to commence upon signature by the Participants.
   6. The Participants may modify this MOU in writing upon their mutual consent.
   7. The Participants may discontinue this MOU at any time by mutual consent in writing.  Alternatively, a Participant that wishes to discontinue its participation in the activities under this MOU should do so by endeavoring to provide at least 60 days advance notice in writing to the other Participants.  The withdrawal of any two Participants operates to discontinue this MOU.

Signed at Washington, in triplicate, this fifteenth day of December 2014, in the English language.  The Participants intend to sign French and Spanish versions of this MOU within 60 days.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES OF CANADA:

FOR THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY OF THE UNITED MEXICAN STATES: