BALI (RAMBU ENERGY) – ASEAN experienced the steady increase on energy demand in the last couple of years which mostly supplied by fossil fuels. In this context, ASEAN Energy Ministers attending the 31st ASEAN Ministers on Energy and Its Associated Meetings (AMEM) agreed to enhance energy efficiency, reduce oil consumption and increase the use of renewable energy.
“In general, all energy ministers agreed to enhance energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy in order to reduce the high consumption of fossil fuels especially oil in the region” said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, Jero Wacik, in the sideline of the AMEM conducted in Nusa Dua Bali,
According to Minister Wacik, the region has many renewable energy potential including geothermal, hydro, solar and biomass that yet to be fully utilized and thus cooperation among the member countries need to be strengthened including with partners counties (Japan, China and Korea).
The meeting attended by 10 ASEAN member countries and dialog partners from China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand, Russia and USA. The meeting also joined by the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA), ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC), Energy Efficiency and Conservation Sub-sector Network (EE&C-SSN), Renewable Energy Sub-sector Network (RE-SSN), Regional Energy Policy and Planning Sub-sector Network (REPP-SSN), ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), International Energy Agency and ERIA.