Private sector role in pipeline sought<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): ASEAN energy ministers called yesterday
\nfor private sector help to build a proposed US$15 billion
\nregional gas pipeline to meet rising power demand in Southeast
\nAsia.<\/p>\n
\"The ministers...agreed that the private sector be encouraged
\nto participate in the linking of the proposed Trans-ASEAN Gas
\nPipe System which has been found to be feasible,\" the ministers
\nsaid in a joint statement issued at the end of a one-day meeting
\nhere.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, groups
\nBrunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
\nand Vietnam.<\/p>\n
A senior ASEAN official at the meeting said the proposed
\npipeline would cost around $15 billion.<\/p>\n
ASEAN senior officials were also continuing discussions on a
\nregion-wide electricity grid linking the seven member nations,
\nofficials at the meeting said.<\/p>\n
Currently, the only international gas pipeline in the region
\nis between Malaysia and Singapore though several other ASEAN
\nmembers are developing or expanding domestic pipeline systems to
\ntap new found gas reserves and lessen their dependence on oil and
\ncoal.<\/p>\n
Gas is cleaner burning than other fossil fuels. It is mainly
\nused in the sweltering tropics to generate electricity, for which
\nASEAN's booming economies have an insatiable demand.<\/p>\n
When opening the meeting, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister
\nAnwar Ibrahim urged ASEAN countries to make the pipeline project
\na top priority.<\/p>\n
He said a study had indicated that total gas demand in ASEAN
\ncountries will jump more than six fold to 150 million tons of oil
\nequivalent by the year 2020 from 23 million tons currently.<\/p>\n
\"If all the demand centers are to be adequately supplied,
\nthere is an urgent need for regional infrastructures such as the
\nTrans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline. ASEAN member countries will have to
\nview the pipeline project with greater urgency than before and
\nexpedite its implementation,\" Anwar said.<\/p>\n
Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, Malaysian
\nEnergy, Telecommunications & Posts Minister, Leo Moggie, said the
\nsubstantial volume of gas deposits in the region could be better
\nutilized by a pipeline linking the member nations.<\/p>\n
Moggie said each member country has been urged to plan its
\ndomestic power requirements to take into account a future link
\nwith regional pipeline and electricity grids.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has been asked to lead a task force that will pave
\nthe way for the setting up of an ASEAN business forum to
\nfacilitate private sector involvement in regional energy
\nprojects, the statement said.<\/p>\n
The planned ASEAN electricity grid would work along the lines
\nof the linked Malaysian, Singapore, Thailand electric power
\ngrids, where power would be shared as needed, Moggie said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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