1.     The Nineteenth ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting (AMEM) was held on 5 July 2001 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. The Meeting was preceded by the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) and the Second SOME-METI Consultations held on 2-4 July 2001.

2.     H.E. Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources of Brunei Darussalam, chaired the 19th AMEM, with H.E. Dr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister on Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, as Vice-Chairman.

3.     The Ministers exchanged views on the social, economic and environmental dimensions of Sustainable Energy Development. The Ministers viewed the importance of policy formulation and integration covering interaction, information sharing and consultation between the responsible decision makers in the economic, social and environmental areas. The Ministers also shared that view that ASEAN member countries are addressing the concern on Sustainable Energy Development, with policies and programs related to energy security and energy pricing, mitigation of the impact of energy use on environment and the promotion of economical and efficient use of energy, among others.

4.     The Ministers recognized that ensuring continuous, reliable and affordable supply of energy results in sustained economic and social progress of the individual ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN region. In this regard, the Ministers welcomed the initiatives taken by member countries in the application of renewable and clean energy technologies.

5.     The Ministers emphasized the need to intensify collaborative efforts towards improving energy efficiency and conservation in the ASEAN region. They also emphasized on the further development, application and commercialization of new and renewable energy, which offer great potential in greenhouse gas emission mitigation and abatement. They urged member countries to set a culture of partnerships, competitiveness and innovation, as well as improve access to finance and investment to support the growth of these two sectors. They also urged member countries to continue liberalizing the energy markets to ensure affordable energy prices and to attract investment for the development of energy infrastructures, with due recognition to the environment. They acknowledged that the integrated trans-ASEAN energy network of power grid and gas pipelines will help facilitate sustainable energy supply security and trade in ASEAN.

6.     The Ministers also exchanged views on the developmental implications of energy services sector as currently discussed in international fora. In this regard, the Ministers shared the view that member countries could look into this concern in the light of their respective national energy policies and programs.

7.     The Ministers appreciated the substantive achievements and developments since their last meeting in Ha Noi, as follows:

• Commissioning of three ASEAN power interconnection projects into operation in the next three years, namely: Stage II links between Thailand-Peninsular Malaysia, Viet Nam-Cambodia, and Thailand-Cambodia;
  

• Significant progress of the ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan Study(AIMS), with target completion by July 2002, under the auspices of Forum of Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA);
  

• Completion of the Master Plan Study for the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline Project (TAGP) and the approval by ASEAN Council of Petroleum (ASCOPE) of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the TAGP implementation;
  

• Joint meeting between the AIMS working group and the TAGP task force addressing mutual concerns and issues in the development of the integrated trans-ASEAN energy network;
  

• Launching public awareness forum/programs under the ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC), to promote intra-ASEAN coal trade and investment and clean coal technology;
  

• Completion of the ASEAN Energy Awards 2001 for Energy Efficient Buildings under the auspices of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Sub-Sector Network and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE);
  

• Completion of the two-year project on the Promotion of Renewable Energy Systems in Southeast Asia, under the New and Renewable Energy (NRSE) Sub-Sector Network;
  

• Completion of the SOME-METI Energy Work Program 2000-2001, as well as adoption of continuing programs for 2001-2002, in the areas of Energy Supply Security Planning and Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Conservation, through the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE);
  

• Inception of the five-year EU-ASEAN Energy Cooperation Program. This program will cover technical assistance to five energy sectors; Electricity, Natural Gas, Clean Coal Technology, Energy Efficiency and Conservation and Renewable Energy;

• ACE collaboration with the International Energy Agency ( IEA); and

• Fostering ACE nodal networking arrangement with Pusat Tenaga Malaysia and the Climate Change Information Center of the Philippines.

9.     To further enhance the implementation of the Energy Action Agenda of the Hanoi Plan of Action and the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation, the Ministers agreed to have an MOU for the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline and to intensify promotion of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation at the private sector level to increase its participation in providing investment and in realizing commercially viable ventures.They also stressed the need to seek financial institutional support for bilateral power interconnection projects.

OPEC Activities

11.     H.E. Dr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, briefed his fellow Ministers on the activities of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

12.     The Ministers viewed that ensuring an adequate and stable supply and price of energy, including oil and other fuels, are vital to the long-term and sustainable growth for all ASEAN countries and the world at large.

13.     The Ministers noted with appreciation the successful implementation of the SOME-METI Work Program 2000-2001. They expressed confidence that the cooperation between Japan and ASEAN in the field of energy would lead to greater energy security and sustainable energy future.

14.     The Ministers also expressed assurance that the ASEAN energy administrations and the ASEAN energy sub-sector networks and specialized bodies would provide continued support to the Japanese counterpart agencies and organizations in implementing mutually beneficial programs in the energy sector, under the SOME-METI Work Program 2001-2002.

15.     The Ministers noted that the ASEAN side presented the following in the Second SOME-METI Consultation held on 4 July 2001:

Cambodia: Recent Energy Situation and Energy Policy

Indonesia: Energy Pricing Issues

Philippines: Electric Power Industry Restructuring Act of 2001

Malaysia: Malaysia Energy Policy in the 8th Malaysia Plan (2001-2005)

Myanmar: Energy Policy and Strategy

Viet Nam: Viet Nam’s Energy and Power Sector Policy

16.     The Ministers congratulated the regional Winners and Runners-Up, respectively, of the ASEAN Energy Awards 2001. The awardees were Securities Commission of Malaysia and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore for the new and existing building category; Mike Shopping Mall of Thailand and the Sultanah Zanariah Library of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for retrofitted buildings; and the Bonifacio Gas Corporation Building of the Philippines for the special innovation category. The awardees were selected from 12 entries at a final judging by the ASEAN EE&C Sub-Sector Networks Board of Judges held on 14-15 May 2001 in Ha Noi.

ASEAN Energy Business Forum

17.     The Ministers were pleased with the outcomes of the third ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) held in Singapore in February 2001, with the theme “Opening Up Business Opportunities”. The fourth AEBF will be held in Bangkok, Thailand in March / April 2002, with the theme “Energy for the 21st Century: A Business Forum of the ASEAN Energy Sector”, and with special focus on Energy Services Companies (ESCOs).

18.     The Ministers agreed that future AEBFs will be held in conjunction with the annual SOME/AMEM meetings, to attract greater participation and involvement of the private sector from ASEAN and non-ASEAN countries.

19.     The Ministers noted that Cambodia and Myanmar formally joined ASCOPE during the 26th ASCOPE Council Meeting held in Singapore. They also noted the progress of ASCOPE’s joint activities and opportunities in exploration and production, processing and refining, trading and marketing, and in technology and services.

20.     The Ministers agreed that the TAGP Master Plan Study, which identified seven new possible gas pipeline interconnections in ASEAN, would be a useful guide in the long-term development of the trans-ASEAN energy network.

21.     The Ministers welcomed the holding of the 7th ASCOPE Conference and Exhibition with the theme “ Forging Towards a New Order in the Oil and Gas Industry” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 5-8 November 2001.

23.     The Twentieth AMEM will be held in Bali, Indonesia in July 2002.

24.     The 19th AMEM was held in the traditional spirit of ASEAN cordiality and solidarity.

H.E. PEHIN DATO ABDUL RAHMAN TAIB

Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Brunei Darussalam

H.E. MR. ITH PRAING

Secretary of State Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, Cambodia

H.E. DR. PURNOMO YUSGIANTORO

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia

H.E. MR. SOULIVONG DARAVONG

Minister of Industry and Handicrafts, Lao PDR

H.E. DATUK AMAR LEO MOGGIE

Minister of Energy, Communications and Multimedia, Malaysia

H.E. BRIG. GEN. LUN THI

Minister of Energy, Myanmar

H.E. MR. VICENTE S. PEREZ, JR

Secretary of Energy, Philippines

H.E. MR. PETER CHEN

Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Singapore

H.E. MR.CHATURON CHAISANG

Minister to the Prime Minister's Office, Thailand

H.E. DR. NGUYEN XUAN CHUAN

Deputy Minister of Industry, Vietnam

and

MR. TRAN DUC MINH

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN