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Western Pacific Regional Branch of IGA

The second Regional Branch of the IGA has now been established to cover the Western Pacific Region.  This will complement the existing European Forum. 

The intention of a Regional Branch of IGA is to provide a close regional focus for members with common interests not only geographically but also in terms of similar types of geothermal resources and technical applications.  In the case of the Western Pacific Branch there will be a strong focus on electricity generation and higher enthalpy resources.

The founding members of the Western Pacific Regional Branch for IGA are those members of the affiliated national Geothermal Associations of Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, China and New Zealand who opt to join the Regional Branch, plus other member of IGA living or working within the geographical area defined who wish to join.

Current membership exceeds 400.

The geographical coverage of the Western Pacific Regional Branch is the area outlined by joining the national boundaries of: Thailand, China, Mongolia, Japan, Samoa, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia, and all other countries within that area. [see map]

There is a strong tradition of co-operation between several of the countries in the region for geothermal development.  For example during the period of rapid geothermal development in the 1980's and  1990's, there was a high degree of participation by New Zealand and Japan in geothermal research and development in Indonesia and the Philippines.  With the maturing of the geothermal industries in those countries it is now much more of a partnership role, but strong linkages remain.

Meetings

All of the five core countries concerned currently individually hold at least annual geothermal conferences or seminars.  Under the aegis of the Regional Branch, one of those conference be named as the Regional Branch Conference for that year, on a rotating basis.  That will foster closer relationships and give a boost to international participation in the conferences.  In 2006 year the Geothermal Workshop in Auckland was designated as the first of the Regional Conferences, and in 2007 it was the Annual PNOC-EDC meeting in Manila.  In 2008 it will be the Indonesian Geothermal Association Annul Meeting, in Bali.  The date of that is yet to be finalised but will be between late March and the end of May.  Watch this space for details.


The WPRB is governed by a Forum for 2006-2007 consisting of:

First name Last name Position Country
Jim  Lawless Chairman New Zealand 
Kevin Brown Treasurer New Zealand
Alimin Ginting
 
 		 Indonesia
Glen Golla
 		 Philippines
Toshi Uchida
 		 Japan
Tingshan Tian
 		 China
Graeme Beardsmore
 		 Australia

The following standing committees have been established:
Elections for the Forum 2007-2010 will be held in late 2007 after the IGA Board elections.
How do you join the Regional Branch ? 

If you are in one of the five core founding countries, that have affiliated Geothermal Organisations, you can expect to be contacted by your appointed representative, or send an Email to the following::

If you are an IGA member who lives or works within the Western Pacific region, but who is not within one of the above five countries, or have any questions, please send an Email directly to Jim Lawless at the address above. 

A small annual membership fee is charged over and above the local association fee or annual IGA membership fee