Panellists at Session 1 of the Singapore Energy Summit
By Choo Zu Kai
China is working towards clean energy making up 80 percent of its energy mix by 2050, said Wang Min, executive vice president of the State Grid Corporation of China, as representatives from Southeast Asian countries shared their commitment to cleaner sources of power during the first session of the Singapore Energy Summit on Monday at Singapore International Energy Week 2015.
“This energy transformation will further drive technological innovation, mutual regional energy aid and international energy cooperation,” said Wang.
The 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) face a variety of challenges, the panellists noted, including varying levels of development and infrastructure.
“ASEAN is expected to grow more than 5% annually. It will require substantial energy supplies to power this growth,” said Hiroshi Ozaki, chairman of Japan’s Osaka Gas.
These energy supplies must be affordable, reliable and sustainable, said Kyle Peters, senior vice president of operations at the World Bank. Energy efficiency should also be promoted, added Datuk Loo Took Gee, secretary-general of Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water.
Tang Kin Fei, group president and chief executive officer of Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries, said challenges include the high cost of infrastructure, the sustainability of the power generation business, the affordability of the power generated and the financial viability of clean energy.
Ozaki noted that the diversity of ASEAN countries in terms of resource distribution and economic development also leads to political challenges.
Viraphonh Vivavong, vice minister of energy and mines in Laos, said progress has been made, citing the power integration project between Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore as an example.
About Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW)
In its 8th edition, Singapore International Energy Week is the premier platform in Asia for energy insights, partnerships and dialogue, bringing together the world’s leading conferences, exhibitions and roundtables in one week and one location. SIEW enriches the global energy conversation by convening political, business, academic and energy industry thought-leaders to define and advance the world’s energy challenges, solutions and actions across the spectrum of oil and gas, clean and renewable energy, and energy infrastructure financing.
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