The Energy Ministry is ready to push forward five plans to promote the sector regionally at the 37th Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), scheduled for Sept 2-6 in Bangkok.
Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, the ministry’s director for international affairs, said the five action plans are expected to be developed at the meeting.
The priority plan is to initiate multilateral electricity trading on a subregional level this year under an Asean power grid including Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia through the power infrastructure of Thailand.
Under this plan, Asean members will enhance their energy security through gas pipeline connectivity and a liquefied natural gas regasification terminal.
The second plan is to enhance the image of coal through promotion of clean coal technologies, led by Indonesia as the largest coal exporter in the region.
The third plan is that Southeast Asia needs to reduce its energy intensity by 20% in 2020 from the 2005 level because the region’s GDP will grow by an average of 4.6% during 2019-40 and power demand is projected to reach 2,212 terawatt-hours by 2040, up from 1,104TWh in 2020.
The fourth plan is to set an increasing target for renewable energy in Southeast Asia, reaching 23% of total capacity in 2025, and improving energy efficiency for home appliances sold in the region.
The fifth plan is to build capabilities in policy, technology and regulatory aspects for nuclear energy in Asean.
Mr Poonpat said the meeting will involve discussions of effective energy management and stability for Southeast Asia via partnerships and innovation to help the economy and people’s standard of living.
Participants include ministers and high-ranking officials from the 10 Asean members and eight partner countries — China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand, the US and Russia — as well as six international energy organisations.
In addition, the Asean Energy Business Forum will take place in parallel with the main meeting, featuring an exhibition on energy, technology and innovation by corporate and academic institutions, and a workshop on related topics.
“The ministry has adopted a main theme of renewable energy innovation for the forum, including hosting the Asean Energy Awards,” Mr Poonpat said. “The ministry will facilitate negotiations between energy ministers and senior officials from Asean members and partner countries to help reach a consensus.”
