The collaboration of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC), and  Japan Carbon Frontier Organization (JCOAL) has taken a concrete milestone to tackle the challenges and finding solutions in exploring a broader range of Clean Coal Technology (CCT) and Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) technologies within the ASEAN region. This partnership represents the substantial effort in addressing cleaner energy technologies and achieving carbon neutrality while also maintaining energy security and affordability.

Photo 1. Photo session with the speakers and panelists

The initiative obtained a substantial step to the launch of the Strategic Report on ASEAN’s Readiness for CCT and CCU Technologies towards Achieving Carbon that was conducted on 21 March 2024. This collaboration aims to provide valuable insights into ASEAN’s ability to seek CCT and CCU technologies while highlighting the challenges faced.

Dato’ Ir. Ts. Abdul Razib Dawood, CEO of Energy Commission Malaysia  and Chair of ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC) opened webinar by emphasising the vital role of CCT and CCU technologies in achieving carbon neutrality within the ASEAN region. He underscored technologies that could advance the importance of promoting energy transition and reducing coal emissions while ensuring energy security for a greener future.

Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ACE mentioned the significance of this report and noted a key achievement for ASEAN in advancing the role of CCT in facilitating the energy transition, as targeted under the regional energy blueprint document, the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021 – 2025. Regardless of the importance of coal as the pivot to powering the ASEAN economy mentioned in the 7^th ASEAN Energy Outlook there is a vital need to expand energy sources and minimise environmental effects.

The opening remarks concluded after the speech of TSUKAMOTO Osamu, President of JCOAL, that highlighted the significance contribution of ASEAN in power generation and most electricity resources. He emphasises the potential of biomass co-firing in decarbonisation efforts, followed by ammonia co-firing, and other initiatitves related to the energy transition. Tsukamoto believes that the collaboration could work on enhancing the transitional energy in ASEAN.

The report presented by Dr. Ambiyah Abdullah, Senior Research Analyst at ACE, and YAMADA Fumiko, Assistant Director of International Collaboration Department (JCOAL) each presented part of the Report. The report presents reviews of public readiness and Forum Group Discussion (FGD) of ASEAN representatives, along with research on coal production and consumption, and combined with the 7^th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO7).

Dr. Ambiyah presented the ASEAN Global Energy Landscape, noting the rising energy demand and the current reliance on coal, and mentioned the importance of promoting the role of Clean Coal Technology (CCT) and Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) towards energy transition and ASEAN Member States (AMS) ambition on Net Zero Targets. Yamada summarised the technology perspectives and potentials of CCT and CCU. The initiatives, best practices, and recommended future directions suggest that future pathways take national level concentration on several technologies, such as biomass co-firing, Carbon Capture Storage (CCS), green hydrogen, and utilisation of by-products from coal-fired power plants.

The following knowledge and technology sharing and discussion is moderated by Beni Suryadi, Manager of ACE, and discuss by the experts panellists, Dr. TAMURA Masato, Deputy General Manager of Carbon Solution Strategic Business Unit of IHI Japan and Norhazree Bin Azman, Lead of PMO Partnership at TNB Power Generation Sdn Bnd.

Photo 2. Panel discussion moderated by Beni Suryadi, Manager of ACE

Norhazree mentioned that TPGSB focuses on large power generating forms of coal, hydroelectric, and gas plants. The portfolio showed the domination of coal-fired plants on the plant capacity and its current development CCT in Janamanjung and Jimah East Power. Dr. Tamura presented the action and technologies needed to achieve a decarbonised society and also emphasised the variety of technologies that encourage the efforts in power/industry activities.

Beni continued to discuss the crucial function of CCT and CCU in achieving ASEAN ambition towards carbon neutrality, as well as exploring the prospects of CCT and CCU technologies to support climate ambition in the ASEAN region. In deploying these technologies, careful consideration of all decisions needs to be made with relevant stakeholders, supporting companies, and energy commissions through seminars, open dialogue, transparency, public awareness campaigns, and periodic engagement. While there may not be technical issues for the deployment, the Southeast Asia region faces challenges related to financial issues, where governmental support is crucial in supporting each region’s efforts. Additionally, collaborative efforts, such as those from the ASEAN Net Zero Emissions Committee and ASEAN Taxonomy Board, can significantly contribute to the development of guidelines for evaluating potential and creating opportunities to achieve climate goals in the region.

To close the panel session, Tsukamoto reiterated the demand for coal and other fossil fuels in the energy transition era that makes the CCT and CCU as solutions to reach carbon neutrality and contribute not only to sustaining the environment but also achieving energy security and goals of each AMS.

The collaborative actions between ACE, AFOC, and JCOAL signify an essential move to address the ASEAN’s climate ambitions to achieve the Net Zero target, commit to a sustainable and cleaner environment, and secure the reliance on coal and fossil fuels during the energy transition while also maintain energy security, affordability, and accessibility.

The Strategic Report on the ASEAN Readiness for CCT and CCU Technologies Towards Carbon Neutrality can be downloaded here.