The ASEAN Energy Efficiency & Conservation Sub-sector Network (EE&C-SSN) met in Bogor, Indonesia, on 10-11 August 2016 for the inception meeting of ASEAN-Japan Energy Efficiency Partnership (AJEEP). The two-day meeting jointly organised by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ), were hosted by Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (DGNREEC), Indonesia.  The Meeting aimed to discuss the accomplishments of AJEEP programme in 2015-2016, and detailed implementation plan of AJEEP under the Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME)-Ministry of Energy, Industry and Trade (METI) work programme 2016-2017.

In her opening statement, Ms. Farida Zed, Director of Energy Conservation, Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (DGNREEC)-Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), Indonesia, she emphasised the important role of energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) measures to address the energy demand growth, energy security and climate change issues.  She also stated that the acceleration for EE&C measures and clean sources need to be intensified.  In regard to EE&C implementation, she stated that energy management system is viewed as a systematic approach in pursuing the EE&C targets, while certified energy managers and auditors are key contributors to the system.

Additionally, the ACE’s Executive Director, Dr. Sanjayan Velautham, reemphasised the needs to strengthen and enhance the cooperation on EE&C to support the EE&C target under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2020 towards more connected, integrated, competitive and resilient ASEAN.

“To support the achievement of the targets under APAEC, AJEEP aims to continue building progress on the promotion of EE&C in the ASEAN Member States through enhanced promotion and dissemination of best practices in buildings and industries, capacity building to narrow development gaps, development of business networking and models, and energy management,” said Mr Takakazu Oikawa, General Manager, International Cooperation Division, Energy Conservation Center, Japan.

The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Sarat Prakobchat, representative of ASEAN EE&C SSN Country Coordinator from Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Thailand.  The agenda includes: i) Key features of EE&C; ii) Energy Manager System; and iii) Achievement of AJEEP and ECAP in 2015-2016.

ASEAN and Japan have a long history in the EE&C sector through the Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Conservation or PROMEEC, started in 2000 and was successfully completed in 2011. During the 13^th SOME-METI in July 2012, it was agreed that the cooperation incorporated a new concept, and to be named thereafter the ASEAN-Japan Energy Efficiency Partnership (AJEEP) to replace the PROMEEC programme. The AJEEP programme consists of two schemes:

1) AJEEP Scheme 2: Enhanced EE&C Promotion by Private Sector

2) AJEEP Scheme 3: ASEAN Capacity Development System

As integral part of AJEEP scheme 2, this year’s programme specifies the focus on energy manager training and certification. The training aims to enhance the energy manager training system in ASEAN by improving the understanding on the latest energy cost reduction techniques and strategies, energy audits, consulting, project services on EE&C.  Certification for training for trainers is also included.  The programme aims to have 116 trainers during the 4-year plan of the programme. At the end of the Meeting, ASEAN delegates expressed their sincerest thanks to METI and ECCJ for their continued support to EE&C development in the region. (RJPS)