ASEAN energy demand predicted to jump fourfold<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): Energy demand in ASEAN is expected to jump
\nmore than fourfold by 2020 in line with rapid regional
\ndevelopment, a petroleum conference was told.<\/p>\n
Energy demand of the seven member economies of the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would increase to 460 million
\ntons of oil equivalent while supply would rise to 630 million
\ntons of oil equivalent.<\/p>\n
The figures, worked out from a 1988 base, were released by the
\nASEAN-EC Energy Management Training and Research Center at a
\nconference in Singapore on the economics of managing downstream
\npetroleum operations.<\/p>\n
The energy-guzzling ASEAN economies consumed 110 million
\ntons of oil equivalent and enjoyed a slightly higher level of
\nsupply in 1988.<\/p>\n
\"In line with rapid economic growth, energy consumption of the
\nASEAN economies will increase rapidly,\" Abdullah Ahmad, the
\ncenter's research head, told the two-day conference which began
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
\nPhilippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is reputedly the
\nworld's most rapidly growing region.<\/p>\n
Abdullah said that the study on ASEAN's energy needs to 2020
\nwas the latest to be undertaken by the Jakarta-based center, set
\nup in 1988 to boost energy cooperation within ASEAN and between
\nthe grouping and the European Union.<\/p>\n
He said that ASEAN's gross domestic product was expected to
\ngrow at 6.8 percent a year up to 2010 and 5.9 percent annually up
\nto 2020.<\/p>\n
Adul Leelapatranurak, executive director of the Petroleum
\nAuthority of Thailand's refining sector group, told the
\nconference that greater regional cooperation, including in
\ntrading, would be the key to meeting the high energy demand.<\/p>\n
\"Opportunities and subsequent rewards would be enhanced if the
\npetroleum industries are to undertake further cooperation and
\ntrading within the region, \" Adul said.<\/p>\n
\"In so doing, we can maintain the stability of refining
\nindustries which in turn will contribute to the common progress
\nand the well-being of our region,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Adul said there could be improvement in the \"receiving\"
\nfacilities of member countries to overcome \"tight supply
\nsituation in certain refined oil products.\"<\/p>\n
\"Those facing shortage of certain products should improve the
\nreceiving terminals so that we can all share the resources,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Conference participants lamented that there was also increased
\ncompetition in the Asian refining sector, where production
\ncapacity is rising to meet the booming demand.<\/p>\n
Abdullah, who spoke on ASEAN's energy requirement and its
\nimplications on refining operations, said that the region's
\ntransport sector would be the top energy consumer in 2020
\nfollowed by industrial and residential and commercial sectors.<\/p>\n
\"For all scenarios, final energy demand of the transport
\nsector will experience the highest growth rate, which will have
\nimplications on environmental pollution,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that primary energy supply in the region in 2020
\nwould be dominated by petroleum products, making up 267 million
\ntons of oil equivalent or 40 percent of the overall figure.<\/p>\n
However relative contribution of oil in 2020 would be 40
\npercent, significantly less than the 1988 share of 50 percent.<\/p>\n
Natural gas's share to energy supply would rise from 12
\npercent in 1988 to 16 percent in 2020, Abdullah said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-energy-demand-predicted-to-jump-fourfold-1447893297",
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