The paper provides a brief review of trends in key energy markets and the impact these will have on Low Income Countries (LICs).

After outlining the links between energy and competitiveness assessment, the paper provides a short overview of energy production and consumption in LICs.

Trends in global markets, and particularly prices, for fossil fuels and the economic impact these will have on LICs are then presented, followed by a similar analysis for the carbon market.

Trends in renewable energy are considered next, followed by a discussion of energy efficiency in LICs. Finally, some conclusions are drawn with respect to implications for the low-carbon competitiveness of LICs.