Minister Arifin Attended 38th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting
MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
PRESS RELEASE
NUMBER: 356.Pers/04/SJI/2020
Date: 20 November 2020
Minister Arifin Attended 38th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR), Arifin Tasrif, attended the 38th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) which was held virtually from Thursday to Friday (Nov 19--Nov 20). In the meeting which is hosted by Vietnam, Arifin talked about the need for an energy transition in ASEAN that focuses not only on the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, but also on the transition to cleaner and more affordable energy options and technologies.
One of Indonesia's key initiatives on ASEAN energy transition cooperation is the formation of a Clean Coal Technology, Center of Excellence (CCT COE). The facility will be located at Palimanan Coal Technology Center in West Java Province. The CCT COE is vital for greater international cooperation, including collaborative research and development as well as technology transfer, not only for Indonesia but also for other ASEAN member countries. Support from all ASEAN+3 (Japan, Korea and China) Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM+3) is expected in order to set up the CCT COE and improve its capabilities in terms of expertise, facilities, and resources.
"Indonesia hopes that cooperation in the ASEAN Forum on Coal can become a think tank to promote the use of clean coal technology in conjunction with ASEAN's movement towards a cleaner energy transition and a low carbon economy," said Arifin on Friday (20/11).
In the series of meetings, ASEAN Energy Ministers will also meet with energy ministers of the East Asia Summit Energy Minister Meeting (EAS-EMM), which includes AMEM+3 plus the United States, Australia, India, New Zealand, and Russia. The 38th AMEM is also attended by international organizations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in order to gain a global perspective on energy and its relation to the ASEAN region.
The target to reduce ASEAN's energy intensity by 20% by 2020 was achieved earlier in 2018 by 21%. This success has made ASEAN optimistic that the region can realize a new target of reduction in energy intensity of 32% by 2025. On the contrary, ASEAN is facing challenges in its efforts to realize the target of renewable energy mix. In 2018, renewable energy mix was recorded at 13.9% of total primary energy supply. This is far below the 23% target set for 2025, but ASEAN has agreed to add the target of installed capacity of renewables power plants by 35% by 2025.
The Minister of EMR is also scheduled to virtually attend ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) on Friday afternoon. The AEBF is a forum that brings together ASEAN energy business players through seminars and business matching. One of the items on AEBF's agenda is a dialogue between ministerial level officials with energy company CEOs to share views and support in order to improve energy connectivity, energy utilization and digitization as well as efforts to meet ASEAN energy targets.
Additionally, the ASEAN Energy Awards (AEA) ceremony is held on the sidelines of the 38th AMEM. The awards include categories such as Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Conservation, and Individuals as Energy Managers. (IY)
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