Asia’s vast energy field

This is regarding Dr. Laurence Delina’s commentary, “The case for an Asean Energy Union” (11/14/17).

Asean’s energy sector is well-established through the Asean Centre for Energy (ACE) in 1999. Its vision: “The Centre as catalyst for the economic growth and integration of the Asean region by initiating and facilitating multilateral collaborations as well as joint and collective activities on energy.” The mission: “ACE shall accelerate the integration of energy strategies within Asean by providing relevant information and expertise to ensure the necessary energy policies and programmes are in harmony with the economic growth and the environmental sustainability of the region.”

The 35th Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (Amem), and Asean Energy Business Forum (AEBF) were held in the Philippines in September 2017. The first-ever in regional electricity was the signing of the Energy Purchase and Wheeling Agreement with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Laos. Soon, a natural gas platform is seen among Indonesia and member-countries. In 18 years, Amem and AEBF have expanded into the Asean Plus Three of China, Japan and South Korea. Moreover, Asean countries, through ACE, have fostered coherent relationships with global energy organizations like the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, International Energy Agency, and International Renewable Energy Agency. As early as 2003, Asean was an observer organization in the Brussels-based Energy Charter Conference.

Maybe this letter will be helpful to Dr. Delina in exploring the region’s vast energy field.

ANTONIO A. VER, president and CEO, H&WB Asia Pacific (Pte Ltd) Corp.