Earlier in June (7-9) during the fasting month of Ramadan that is observed by some ASEAN Member States (AMS), ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) of Cambodia organised ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC) Council and Board of Judges Meeting. These Meetings are a series of annual meeting of ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC)’s programmes. The event took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Dr. Kieu Kim Truc, Head of delegates from Vietnam and the Chair of Meetings, stated in his opening remarks that the Council Meeting is an important move for the AMS to enhance the study of clean coal technology. Dr. Sanjayan Velautham, ACE’s Executive Director, in his opening remarks, expressed that ACE will continue to support and assist AFOC in promoting ASEAN energy cooperation in the coal sectors as well as intra-ASEAN business opportunities towards enhancing regional energy security.  He also emphasized the importance of addressing environmental issues by adopting the cleanest and the most appropriate and efficient coal technologies in the region.

On the last day, the host country organised a site visit to the 2×500 MW coal-fired power plant in Sihanoukville Province, Cambodia. The site visit was attended by the delegates from AMS, ACE and Japan Coal Energy Centre (JCOAL). The visit is expected to expand the promotion of cleaner coal utilisation in the power sector and to serve as a knowledge and experience sharing between the AMS and dialogue partners. (SBS. Group Photo Credit:  MME Cambodia)

One of the coal unloaders at the coal-fired power plant. Credit: ACE