Under the framework of ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) Energy Fora, the 5^th Oil Market and Natural Gas Forum and Business Dialogue (OM&NG) hosted by Directorate of Energy, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), Vietnam, was held on 29-31 March 2016 in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. As a continuation of its first implementation in 2011, the activity was conducted under the platform of Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME)+3 and ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM)+3 with the objective to create and share knowledge on recent oil and natural gas situation within ASEAN+3.

During the opening remarks, the Senior Officials on Energy (SOE) Leader of Vietnam, Mr. Le Tuan Phong, stated that the Fora provided an opportunity for information sharing on these topics: policy updates, challenges, best practices and experiences of the latest technology in oil and gas exploration and production from ASEAN+3 Member States. Further, ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)’s representative on behalf of the Executive Director, emphasised the impact of lower oil price to the economic growth, and encouraged ASEAN+3 Energy Fora to strengthen its cooperation towards sustainable growth.

The activity was attended by 30 participants from various institutions, namely: Governments of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam; Indonesia’s state company Pertamina; Thailand’s PTT Public Company Limited; Petro Vietnam; Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC); The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan; Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE); and ACE.  One of the OM&NG Forum’s key outcomes is Japan’s proposal to establish a functional network among ASEAN Member States and the 3 countries (China, Japan, South Korea). On the last day, the participants were provided an opportunity to visit the Thị Vai LPG Port and Dinh Co Gas Processing Plant to observe Vietnam’s latest technology in gas processing. (SBS)

From left to right: Deputy General Manager of Gas Division of Petro Vietnam, Ngo Anh Hien; ASCOPE’s Senior Analyst, Upstream & Gas Team Leader, Paramate Hoisungwan; Deputy Director, General Coordinator Division of JOGMEC, Hiroyasu Konno; Deputy Director of Department of Petroleum Technology, Operation Supporting and Energy Security of Cambodia, Koh Sila; ASCOPE’s Secretary-in-Charge, Nopporn Chuchinda; ASCOPE’s country coordinator from Pertamina, Dr. I Putu Suarsana; representative from PTT Public Company Limited, Krongkan Khurowat; Director of Energy Policy Division of Lao PDR, Litthanoulok Laspho; and ACE’s representative, Septia Buntara Supendi. Credit: ACE.