At the 17th ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea) Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM+3) (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Energy ministers of ASEAN countriesand partners have affirmed their commitment to pursue sustainable post-pandemiceconomic recovery measures by strengthening partnerships and renovation to ensureenergy security, transformation, and recovery.
At the 17th ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, and the Republic ofKorea) Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM+3), held online on November 20, participantslauded the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) for the 2021-2025 period.
They reiterated their support for the implementation ofthe scheme through the exchange of information and knowledge and programmes to enhancecapacity as well as joint research, publications, and demonstration projects.
ASEAN member countries are now working towards the possibilityof recovering through balancing economic costs and risks while considering the optimalbalance between national security and economic recovery.
Regarding energy security, participants reaffirmed thesignificance of stable clean energy supplies at affordable prices to serve economicand daily activities.
They acknowledged that the energy transformation processin ASEAN is not only focusing on sources ranging from fossil fuels to renewableenergy but also on the selection of green, sustainable energy and technology servingpost-pandemic recovery.
The ASEAN 3 countries are working hard to promote CleanCoal Technology (CCT), to support the transformation toa low-carbon economy.
Ministers and heads of delegations proposed the strengtheningof trade promotions with the new role of CCT and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage.
They also encouraged the threepartner countries to continue their support for the ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC)and in implementing APAEC in the second phase in the 2021-2025 period.
They lauded the joint policysummary on the new role of coal power plants in the era of energy transition preparedby the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Japan Coal Energy Center (JCOAL).
They spoke highly of Chinaand Japan’s role in CCT through the advancement of technology and policy support.
They will continue to work ona number of initiatives, including an integrated research centre by the Japan AtomicEnergy Agency (JAEA).
Due to the impact of COVID-19on the development and feasibility of oil refinery plants and liquefied naturalgas (LNG) infrastructure in the ASEAN 3 region, participants hailed the effortsof ASEAN 3 countries in strengthening cooperation between governments, financialorganisations, and the private sector, to provide better access to financial resourcesfor comprehensive recovery.
At the same time, they also encouraged ASEAN 3 countries to pay more attention to new technology to eliminate carbon anddigitalise oil and gas value chains.
They agreed to convene the nextmeeting in October 2021 in Brunei and to adopt the joint statement from this meeting./.
VNA
