East Asian leaders look to alternative energy

Jan 15, 2007, 12:52 GMT

Cebu, Philippines - East Asian leaders vowed Monday to reduce the region's dependence on conventional fuels by pushing for alternative energy sources - from biofuels to nuclear power - amid recurrent supply problems in the region.

The leaders from 16 East Asian countries also agreed in a declaration they signed Monday to 'explore possible modes of strategic fuel stockpiling' amid the continued volatility of oil and other fuel prices on the world market.

These modes could include 'individual programmes, multi-country and/or regional voluntary and commercial arrangements,' the declaration said.

To help the region become more energy efficient, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced a 2-billion-dollar aid package.

'For the purpose of eliminating poor access to energy in East Asia countries, we will offer 2 billion dollars of aid,' he told the East Asia Summit held under tight security in the central Philippine province of Cebu.

A Japanese official privy to the meeting - held as part of the annual leaders summit of the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) - said the aid would focus on developing energy-saving technologies.

'We've been telling our fellow Asian countries that energy saving is the key,' the official said. 'Japan has cut roughly 30 per cent of its energy consumption in the past three decades.'

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, chairman of the summit, said the Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security expressed the leaders' collective commitment to reduce dependence on conventional fuels.

'As a priority area for our second East Asia Summit, we convened a special session on energy to identify ways of working together to ensure stable fuel supplies in the region,' she said.

She added that the declaration represented one of the initiatives 'that would provide a concrete payback to the ordinary citizens' by ensuring a basic need that also affects progress and development.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Beijing 'attaches great importance to energy security and energy cooperation' and was prepared to take 'an active part in international cooperation to ensure stability of the regional and global energy market.'

'Energy security calls for the concerted efforts of the international community, and an approach to energy security featuring mutually beneficial cooperation, diversified development and ensuring supply through coordination should be developed and pursued,' he said.

In the declaration, the 16 countries agreed to closely work together 'to reduce dependence on conventional fuels through intensified energy efficiency and conservation programmes, hydropower, expansion of renewable energy systems and biofuel production/utilization and civilian nuclear power.'

They also vowed to 'mitigate greenhouse-gas emission through effective policies and measures.'

Arroyo said the leaders also pledged to pursue and encourage investment on energy-resource and -infrastructure development through greater private-sector involvement.

The signatories to the declaration were ASEAN members Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar and dialogue partners China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Under the declaration, the leaders vowed to 'encourage the use of biofuels and work towards freer trade on biofuels and a standard on biofuels used in engines and motor vehicles.'

The declaration also called for the promotion of the clean use of coal and the development of clean coal technologies.

The leaders stressed the need to pursue energy policies and strategies 'best suited to each country's national circumstances which will lead to sustainable development.'

Another energy source that the region hopes to tap is hydropower, an energy source abundant in the region.