Strengthening Energy Security Key to Sustainable Development in Asia

The Business Times

22 October 2015

Ong Keng Yong and Julius Cesar Trajano

ENERGY security is critical to sustaining Asia’s rapid population and economic growth as well as national commitments to reduce carbon emissions to combat climate change. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that South-east Asia’s energy demand will increase by 80 per cent by 2040. To support economic development, the generation capacity of South-east Asia’s power sector will expand by 400GW by 2014, which is equivalent to the current size of Japan and Korea’s power systems. At the same time, China and India are expected to contribute 70 per cent of total electricity generated globally.

Rapid energy demand growth requires stable and secure energy sources. It is therefore essential that we obtain a balanced and diverse energy mix to achieve energy security, economic growth and address environmental concerns. Together, Asian countries can enhance regional partnerships towards this goal.

… Mr Trajano is associate research fellow at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at Nanyang Technological University. Mr Ong is the executive deputy chairman of RSIS. He will be moderating sessions on energy transitions and their implications on the global landscape at Singapore International Energy Week 2015 from Oct 26 to 30.

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