ASEAN senior officials meet in Cambodia to discuss bloc's energy security

Xinhua | 2012-7-2 

he 30th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) began here on Monday to discuss the bloc's energy security and green energy connectivity.

Chea Sieng Hong, secretary of state for Cambodia's ministry of industry, mines and energy, said that the meeting was to discuss on-going efforts towards ASEAN Green Connectivity when the ASEAN turns into a community in 2015.

"It is focused on energy security in the ASEAN region, green energy in the context of climate change," he told the opening session.

The meeting is also to follow up the ASEAN Plan of Actions for Energy Cooperation (2010-15), which is focused on ASEAN Power Grid, Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline, Coal and Clean Coal Technologies, New and Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, and Civilian Nuclear Energy.

"These actions will enhance security, accessibility and sustainability of energy in the ASEAN region," he said.

Besides, there will also be meetings between ASEAN senior energy officials and the dialogue partners including China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand, Russia, the United States and European Union.

"To achieve ASEAN's ambition in terms of energy, we need to increase coordination and cooperation among ASEAN member countries and all dialogue partners," he said.

The outcome of the 30th SOME will be submitted to the ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Energy to be held in September in Phnom Penh, said Chea Sieng Hong.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.