ASEAN sees bright spots in energy industry

Bariso said the meetings were designed to determine possible topics of discussion and other programs under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025. (Photo: ASEAN 2017/Facebook)

MANILA— On the second day of preliminary meetings leading to the opening of the 35th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM35) and Associated Meetings, representatives of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed that the prospects for the region’s energy industry are very promising.

This was announced by Assistant Director Carmencita Bariso of the Department of Energy’s Energy Policy and Planning Bureau (DOE-EPPB) during a media briefing held at the ASEAN International Media Center in Microtel, Pasay City Tuesday.

Bariso said the meetings were designed to determine possible topics of discussion and other programs under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025.

The APAEC has seven main areas that will be discussed during the AMEM35 — Clean Coal Technologies, Civilian Nuclear Energy, Regional Energy Policy and Planning, Renewable Energy (RE), Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP), and the ASEAN Power Grid (APG).

DOE Undersecretary Jesus Cristino Posadas sat as Chair of the Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME)+3 (China, Japan and Korea).

The SOME+3 prepared the Senior Officials report to the ASEAN+3 Ministers, which will review and deliberate on the progress made in implementing the Work Programs under the APAEC 2016-2025 (Phase 1: 2016-2020).

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said all the activities in the AMEM are geared toward solidifying cooperation programs under the APAEC.

“We want to ensure that these agenda be put forward so that all our countries’ objectives will be reached. Our target is to increase our country’s 4 percent gross domestic product to more than 6 percent through the ASEAN economic community. The Philippines is proud to be the energy knowledge hub for this year and the Philippines takes pride in hosting the ASEAN and the AMEM35,” Fuentebella said. (PNA)