Asean members push for more green power generation

KOTA KINABALU: Asean members are pushing for more green power generation as their senior energy officials meet here.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Loo Took Gee said developing renewable energy was among the issues being discussed at the ongoing 33rd Asean senior energy officials’ meeting, which started here yesterday.

“Our aim is to scale up renewable energy generation whether it is through biomass, biogas or solar and others,” she said after chairing a session of the meeting that is being held until Saturday.

Loo said the meeting also provided the opportunity for energy officials to discuss the progress of a proposed transmission of power from Laos to Singapore via Thailand and Malaysia.

A flagship project of Asean cooperation, it is one of the energy-related initiatives among the member countries.

Loo said other ongoing projects include those involving Malaysia and Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand as well as an interconnection between Kalimantan and Sarawak in Borneo.

“We aim to have more power transactions among Asean members,” she added.

The meeting, divided into eight work streams to ensure effective cooperation among Asean officials, will see consultations and discussions with officials of the grouping’s dialogue partners including the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia as well as the International Energy Agency.