SE Asian gas pipeline plan to be studied

SE Asian gas pipeline plan to be studied

SINGAPORE (AP): A plan to create a massive gas pipeline
network across Southeast Asia is ready to be studied by officials
in the region, a report said Thursday.

The plan, drafted by a task force from the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, will be sent for consideration
to all 10 members of the grouping, Singapore's government
Teletext news service reported Thursday.

A copy of the draft wasn't immediately available.

The Trans-ASEAN Energy Network would link existing and
proposed gas networks in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam,
the Philippines and Thailand - with major demand centers in China
and Taiwan.

Demand for natural gas is growing throughout world, as oil
becomes more scarce and expensive and concerns about the
environment increase.

During a speech Thursday, Singapore Trade Minister George Yeo
called for the private sector to take a more active role in
building and financing infrastructure in Asia's energy sector.

Citing recent Indonesian-Singaporean gas cooperation projects,
Yeo said in a speech to delegates that Singapore "will do its
part to bring about great economic cooperation in the energy
industry."

Plans for the pan-ASEAN gas grid have been under consideration
for five years and it may take 20 more years to complete.
Another task force is studying a pan-ASEAN power grid.

Yeo said an ASEAN power grid would help optimize energy
resources, make power generation more cost effective, spur the
liberalization of national electricity markets and attract more
private sector investment.

Singapore will also work to increase competition within the
power sector in ASEAN, he added.

Currently cross-border electricity sales take place between
Thailand and Laos, Thailand and Malaysia, and Malaysia and
Singapore.

The 10 members of ASEAN are Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the
Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and
Cambodia.