Published
September 27, 2017, 10:00 PM By Myrna M. Velasco
http://business.mb.com.ph/2017/09/27/7-point-agenda-up-at-asean-energy-ministers-meeting/
The senior energy
officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have fleshed
out a seven-point agenda at the Energy Ministers Meeting now ongoing in
Manila.
These will delve on
issues and concerns relating to: Clean coal technology; civilian nuclear
energy; regional energy policy and planning; renewable energy; energy
efficiency and conservation; Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline; and the Asean Power
Grid.
On clean coal
technology, Philippine Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella told
journalists that “the strategy is to enhance the image of coal through
promotion of clean coal technologies.”
Additionally, he
emphasized that this goal shall be underpinned by pursuing activities to
increase public awareness, recognition of best practices, trade and investment
collaboration with global networks, policy research and capacity build-up.
For civilian nuclear
energy, ASEAN countries will strive on building “capabilities in policy,
technology and regulatory aspects of nuclear energy,” he said.
The energy official
added that such shall be hinged on “capacity-building through workshops and
international nuclear experts groups,” primarily that of the Japan Atomic
Energy Agency and ASEAN regulatory bodies on atomic energy.
In terms of regional
energy policy and planning, the aim is to “better profile the ASEAN energy
sector internationally.”
Anchored on that
target, Fuentebella noted that ASEAN “should endeavor to have better profile,
data and analysis, outlook and statistics,” on energy planning.
Member-countries shall
similarly pursue collaboration “with development partners and international
organizations through various energy dialogues, and resilience and emergency
preparedness.”
On renewable energy,
the aspiration of the region shall be to increase the aggregate component of
that technology to 23 percent in the energy mix by year 2025.”
Such shall be supported
by public awareness campaigns, recognition activities, dialogues, research and
development on technology, RE financing scheme and advancement of biofuels
utilization.”
On the sphere of energy
efficiency, the goal will be to “reduce energy intensity by 20 percent in year
2020,” to be referenced on 2005 levels.
Strategies must rope in
“development of energy efficiency standards particularly on lighting products
and cooling systems,” as well as private sector participation that shall
include energy service companies, green building and energy efficiency financing
schemes.”
Further, on the
long-planned Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline Project, the region will be pursuing
enhanced “connectivity for energy security and accessibility via pipelines and
regasification terminals.”
The other vital
component of the region’s energy agenda delves on the proposed ASEAN Power
Grid, in which the signing of the link-up of power grids of Lao
PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore shall be sealed in this year’s meeting of the
ASEAN energy ministers.
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