Taiwan is a densely populated island with only limited natural resources. Since energy plays a vital role in national economic development, the government established the Energy Commission under the Ministry of Economic Affairs in November 1979, and reorganized it as the Bureau of Energy in July 2004. This was done to better formulate and implement national energy policies such as the "Energy Management Act", "Electricity Act", "Petroleum Administration Act", "Regulations Governing Administration of Gas Utilities", and other energy-related regulations. In addition, the Bureau of Energy guides the operations of energy enterprises and carries out such tasks as the evaluation of energy supply and demand, the establishment of an energy database system, the promotion of energy conservation programs, the implementation of research and development of energy technology, and the promotion of international energy cooperation. Two recent energy policy changes are especially noteworthy.