ID :
208361
Tue, 09/20/2011 - 17:46
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http://m.oananews.org//node/208361
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29th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting kicks off in Brunei
JERUDONG, September 20 (TNA) - ASEAN energy ministers hail their key performance indicators in common energy policy through energy use reduction and renewable energy sources at their gathering for the 29th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Brunei.
The ministers of 10 ASEAN countries commenced the AMEM in Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam, on Tuesday when they outlined the two criteria of measures indicated ASEAN overall achievements under ASEAN Plan of Action on Energy Cooperation 2010-2015 (APAEC).
According to the joint statement, the ministers commended the works on energy efficiency and conservation programs as ASEAN is targeting for an eight percent reduction in ASEAN's regional energy intensity by the year 2015, based on 2005 level. From latest information, there has already been a reduction of 4.97 percent, officials say.
On renewable energy, ASEAN is aiming to increase the contribution renewable energy to its total installed source of power to 15 per cent by 2015. The statement says “ASEAN’s efforts and activities get a closer reach” to that goal.
However, a senior Brunei official said ASEAN still needed to properly define what it is as for now there is still no standard definition of renewable energy," such as hydropower.
The two indicators are among ASEAN’s seven key energy cooperation areas under its Plan of Action; the ASEAN power grid, ASEAN gas pipeline, ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation programs, renewable energy, coal, nuclear cooperation and policy and planning.
In the two-day meeting, the ASEAN ministers have had opportunities to meet with their dialogue partners from the Asia Pacific, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States, as well as from the International Energy Agency and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.
While recognizing the concerns over the use of nuclear power following the March 11 earthquake and nuclear accidents in Japan, ASEAN ministers affirmed more collaboration on concrete and action-oriented programs to boost energy efficiency and conservation while building up coordination on nuclear-related issues, promoting transparency, undertaking regional nuclear emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, the joint statement says.
Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said ASEAN was looking at the nuclear security issues as well as information sharing on best practices.
The AMEM also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation between ASEAN and the International Energy Agency (IEA). ASEAN Secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan who signed the MOU with IEA’s executive director Maria Van der Hoeven said the agreement would lead to IEA’s assistance for ASEAN in the implementation of its objectives set out in the APAE.
The IEA “will help us, they will cooperate with us, they will assist us on how to improve our capacities, to forecast, to analyze and to plan for the future what we need as group; where we can have the resources, how to conserve the resources, to use, to utilize. Most importantly how not to have negative impact on our environment,” Surin said.
The ASEAN ministers will also be holding bilateral talks with their counterparts and other international agencies as well as joining a roundtable dialogue with CEOs from major multinational corporations.
The 29th AMEM will also showcase the inaugural Brunei Energy Expo 2011 (BEE2011) that will be held for two days from September 21-23, which is expected to be officiated by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the BRIDEX Centre in Jerudong. (TNA)
The ministers of 10 ASEAN countries commenced the AMEM in Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam, on Tuesday when they outlined the two criteria of measures indicated ASEAN overall achievements under ASEAN Plan of Action on Energy Cooperation 2010-2015 (APAEC).
According to the joint statement, the ministers commended the works on energy efficiency and conservation programs as ASEAN is targeting for an eight percent reduction in ASEAN's regional energy intensity by the year 2015, based on 2005 level. From latest information, there has already been a reduction of 4.97 percent, officials say.
On renewable energy, ASEAN is aiming to increase the contribution renewable energy to its total installed source of power to 15 per cent by 2015. The statement says “ASEAN’s efforts and activities get a closer reach” to that goal.
However, a senior Brunei official said ASEAN still needed to properly define what it is as for now there is still no standard definition of renewable energy," such as hydropower.
The two indicators are among ASEAN’s seven key energy cooperation areas under its Plan of Action; the ASEAN power grid, ASEAN gas pipeline, ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation programs, renewable energy, coal, nuclear cooperation and policy and planning.
In the two-day meeting, the ASEAN ministers have had opportunities to meet with their dialogue partners from the Asia Pacific, namely, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States, as well as from the International Energy Agency and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.
While recognizing the concerns over the use of nuclear power following the March 11 earthquake and nuclear accidents in Japan, ASEAN ministers affirmed more collaboration on concrete and action-oriented programs to boost energy efficiency and conservation while building up coordination on nuclear-related issues, promoting transparency, undertaking regional nuclear emergency preparedness and response mechanisms, the joint statement says.
Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said ASEAN was looking at the nuclear security issues as well as information sharing on best practices.
The AMEM also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation between ASEAN and the International Energy Agency (IEA). ASEAN Secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan who signed the MOU with IEA’s executive director Maria Van der Hoeven said the agreement would lead to IEA’s assistance for ASEAN in the implementation of its objectives set out in the APAE.
The IEA “will help us, they will cooperate with us, they will assist us on how to improve our capacities, to forecast, to analyze and to plan for the future what we need as group; where we can have the resources, how to conserve the resources, to use, to utilize. Most importantly how not to have negative impact on our environment,” Surin said.
The ASEAN ministers will also be holding bilateral talks with their counterparts and other international agencies as well as joining a roundtable dialogue with CEOs from major multinational corporations.
The 29th AMEM will also showcase the inaugural Brunei Energy Expo 2011 (BEE2011) that will be held for two days from September 21-23, which is expected to be officiated by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the BRIDEX Centre in Jerudong. (TNA)
