ASEAN reaffirms plan on energy cooperation<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (Reuters): Ministers of the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations reaffirmed on Saturday a commitment to cooperate in
\nthe energy sector despite difficulties caused by oversupply and
\nthe regional economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Energy and industry ministers of 10-member bloc, meeting in
\nBangkok, resolved to hasten implementation of an action agenda
\nagreed at the December 1998 ASEAN summit and adopted an interim
\naction plan for energy cooperation running to 2004.<\/p>\n
The ministers reaffirmed a commitment to developing an
\nintegrated ASEAN energy network consisting of a regional power
\ngrid and a trans-ASEAN gas pipeline, a statement said.<\/p>\n
They recognized the need to establish an ASEAN power pool in
\nthe future.<\/p>\n
\"The ministers noted that there are significant signs of
\neconomic recovery in the region and underlined the importance of
\nstrengthening collaboration in the energy sector to support
\nsustainable growth and regional economic integration in ASEAN,\"
\nthe statement said.<\/p>\n
It said the economic crisis had hit such efforts hard.<\/p>\n
\"The decline in energy demand, the rise in energy prices in
\nterms of local currencies, and the financial crisis in some ASEAN
\ncountries had substantial impacts on joint collaborative efforts
\nthe in the energy sector, particularly the Trans-ASEAN Gas
\nPipeline and the ASEAN Power Grid,\" it said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless the ministers welcomed the expansion of the power
\ngrid to 14 interconnected projects, with the addition of four
\nlinking Thailand and Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia, Laos and
\nCambodia and Thailand and Cambodia.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, which groups Thailand with Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam,
\nLaos, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines,
\nhas set a target date of 2020 for completion of the pan-regional
\npipeline and power grid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-reaffirms-plan-on-energy-cooperation-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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