In Bangkok (September 4th 2019), Prime Minister His Excellency General Prayut Chan-ocha presided over the opening ceremony of the 37th ASEAN Minister on Energy Meeting and Associated Meeting and ASEAN Energy Business Forum under the concept of "Advancing Energy Transition Through Partnership and Innovation", collaborate in developing ASEAN energy innovation in the era of energy transition into a sustainable energy era At Crystal A Room, The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok.
Prime Minister His Excellency General Prayut Chan-ocha said that the ASEAN region is facing many challenges in the energy sector, energy is an important factor which affect social development and economic growth continuously, each country's production of energy and usage is determined by its ability to adapt to energy challenges according to the situation of the region.
Recently, we are at the beginning of the global trend in the era of energy transition and are entering to the future energy era. The demand of energy in ASEAN region has grown rapidly due to our economic and social growth and renewable energy has it’s own potential to be the main energy for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the development of energy markets and energy investments as well as the development of future energy technologies both in terms of fuel fossils and non-fossils is very important to create energy security for the region.
For Thailand, as the host country of ASEAN this year, we have achieved our goal that we have planned. The results of the key priority deliverables launched by Thailand this year could shape the future of energy policy in ASEAN in many areas for examples there is a commitment of exchange electricity between Thai-LAO PDR-Malaysia. The three countries have confirmed to increase the maximum committed energy capacity trading of the LTM-PIP up to 300 MW. Consequently, the interconnection among the LTM shall be upgraded to support and facilitate the expansion of the cooperation to enhance energy connectivity of power grid in ASEAN. Moreover, several studies have been finalized this year could confirm the energy collaboration among ASEAN and dialogue partner countries and organizations , for example, the study of small-scaled LNG, the study on small-scale LNG infrastructure and bunkering, the recommendations on integrating renewables into the APG regional power system integration etc. These studies will be able to serve the ASEAN Plan of Action on Energy Cooperation with the goal of Energy connectivity, Sustainable Energy with the 23 percent share of RE in 2025 and the harmonization standard of energy efficiency appliances which create sustainable development and future of ASEAN.
As for the future of energy, factors that will affect in the global energy of the future is clean energy and renewable energy which can be driven by a decentralized energy system, energy production in the form of electrical energy and the use of digital technology to support energy development to be efficient and sustainable. Therefore, the transition to modern energy systems with the renewable energy, being the primary energy source which is not only increase energy security but also improving people well-being, increasing income and helps to reduce environmental problems.
Therefore, the main theme of the 37th ASEAN Minister on Energy Meeting or 37th AMEM this year is "Advancing Energy Transition Through Partnership and Innovation", which means focusing on cooperation to develop ASEAN energy innovation in the era of energy transition into a sustainable energy era which focus on the cooperation of the ASEAN countries and dialogue partners in the development of technology and energy innovation to enable ASEAN to cope with the energy transition era which changes form of fossil fuels to clean energy which is more sustainable for the future. The issue is modern and up-to-date which we should discuss further nowadays.
