The 29 th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM 29) opened inJerudong, Brunei, on Sept. 21, discussing important issues relating topolicies, regulations and business opportunities in the energy sector toboost ASEAN connectivity and build the ASEAN Community in 2015.
AMEM 29, the first energy meeting since the Overall Plan on ASEANConnectivity was adopted, drew the participation of ASEANSecretary-General Surin Pitsuwan and representatives from 10 ASEANcountries and dialogue partners, and international organisations.
In his opening speech, Brunei’s Energy Minister Mohammad Yasmin Umar,the Chair of AMEM 29, affirmed that the meeting offered a “goldenopportunity” for all ASEAN members, dialogue partners, internationalorganisations and the energy business community to speed up ASEAN energyconnectivity.
He stressed that ASEAN has a demand forboosting infrastructure connectivity to open up new marketopportunities and strengthen energy security, as well as speed upregional connectivity projects in the energy, oil and gas sectors,creating favourable conditions for energy trade, investment and servicesand enhancing cooperation with partners to strongly foster “East Asianenergy connectivity”.
ASEAN Secretary-General SurinPitsuwan highlighted the importance of efforts by the bloc’s energysector to develop cooperative opportunities and attract theparticipation of partners and the business community in implementing theOverall Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, the ASEAN Plus Three ComprehensiveStrategy on Food Security and Bio-Energy Development (APTCS-FSBD) andthe Strategic Plan of Action on Food and Energy Security (SPA-FES).
ASEAN energy ministers agreed on common goals for the region as theyworked towards increasing the proportion of renewable energy resourcesand new energy technologies, to ensure ASEAN’s sustainable recovery andgrowth, and cope with increasing energy challenges.
They said that ASEAN should build emergency oil reserve stores to dealwith possible interrupted supplies while strengthening regionalcooperation in clean energy production, which contributes to globalenergy dialogue, and providing statistical research and analyses andnecessary recommendations in order to build a coordinated, concentrated,strong, effective and strategic energy programme for ASEAN.
According to the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), ASEAN isexpected to emerge as a net importing region in the next five years andit requires a stronger cooperation between ASEAN member countries andtheir partners to facilitate oil and gas trading and marketingactivities in the region.
ASCOPE also said that theregion’s two leading energy connectivity projects, namely the “ASEANPower Grid” (APG) and the “Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline” (TAGP), will helpstrengthen regional energy security.
On the sidelinesof AMEM 29, ASEAN and the International Energy Agency (IEA) signed amemorandum of understanding on energy cooperation./.
AMEM 29, the first energy meeting since the Overall Plan on ASEANConnectivity was adopted, drew the participation of ASEANSecretary-General Surin Pitsuwan and representatives from 10 ASEANcountries and dialogue partners, and international organisations.
In his opening speech, Brunei’s Energy Minister Mohammad Yasmin Umar,the Chair of AMEM 29, affirmed that the meeting offered a “goldenopportunity” for all ASEAN members, dialogue partners, internationalorganisations and the energy business community to speed up ASEAN energyconnectivity.
He stressed that ASEAN has a demand forboosting infrastructure connectivity to open up new marketopportunities and strengthen energy security, as well as speed upregional connectivity projects in the energy, oil and gas sectors,creating favourable conditions for energy trade, investment and servicesand enhancing cooperation with partners to strongly foster “East Asianenergy connectivity”.
ASEAN Secretary-General SurinPitsuwan highlighted the importance of efforts by the bloc’s energysector to develop cooperative opportunities and attract theparticipation of partners and the business community in implementing theOverall Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, the ASEAN Plus Three ComprehensiveStrategy on Food Security and Bio-Energy Development (APTCS-FSBD) andthe Strategic Plan of Action on Food and Energy Security (SPA-FES).
ASEAN energy ministers agreed on common goals for the region as theyworked towards increasing the proportion of renewable energy resourcesand new energy technologies, to ensure ASEAN’s sustainable recovery andgrowth, and cope with increasing energy challenges.
They said that ASEAN should build emergency oil reserve stores to dealwith possible interrupted supplies while strengthening regionalcooperation in clean energy production, which contributes to globalenergy dialogue, and providing statistical research and analyses andnecessary recommendations in order to build a coordinated, concentrated,strong, effective and strategic energy programme for ASEAN.
According to the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), ASEAN isexpected to emerge as a net importing region in the next five years andit requires a stronger cooperation between ASEAN member countries andtheir partners to facilitate oil and gas trading and marketingactivities in the region.
ASCOPE also said that theregion’s two leading energy connectivity projects, namely the “ASEANPower Grid” (APG) and the “Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline” (TAGP), will helpstrengthen regional energy security.
On the sidelinesof AMEM 29, ASEAN and the International Energy Agency (IEA) signed amemorandum of understanding on energy cooperation./.
