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.