Professor Hidetoshi Nishimura, the President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and a high-level delegation of ERIA Energy Experts attended the 34th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting and associated events, including the Tenth EAS Energy Ministers Meeting, on 19-23 September 2016 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

The delegation consisted of the Special Advisor to the President on Energy Affairs Mr Shigeru Kimura, Managing Director for Research Affairs Mr Shigeki Kamiyama, Senior Energy Economist Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, Energy Economist Dr Yanfei Li, and Energy Economist Dr Han Phoumin. Professor Nishimura delivered a presentation on ERIA's research activities at the Tenth East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting and held several bilateral meetings.

The annual meeting included ASEAN member states and dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, and the United States.

Presentation to EAS Energy Ministers

Prof Nishimura presented the key findings of ERIA's energy studies to the Tenth East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting held on 22 September.

Prof Nishimura began his presentation by saying that ERIA is one of the key institutions supporting EAS cooperation and implementing the Plan of Action (PoA) of the Phnom Penh Declaration on the EAS Development Initiative 2015-2017.

ERIA is promoting 21 energy policy research projects this year and next year in a bid to bring sustainable policy solutions to the stakeholders. The projects can be categorised under four pillars, namely:

• Energy Efficiency, Conservation and Renewables

• Sustainable Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Power

• Regional Cooperation, Integration and Supply Security

• Capacity Building and Bilateral Cooperation

Prof Nishimura also presented the EAS Mid - Long Term Energy Policy Road Map, which was formulated through an intensive consultation process with EAS member countries. The main purpose of the Road Map is to provide a demand-driven energy policy research framework and set specific themes for action-oriented research.

ERIA Mentioned in the Joint Ministerial Statement of the Tenth East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting

The Joint Ministerial Statement for the Tenth EAS Energy Ministers Meeting recognised ERIA's contribution to advance EAS collaboration on natural gas in the fourth paragraph:

EAS Collaboration on Natural Gas

4. To advance the EAS collaboration on natural gas, the Ministers welcomed Japan's proposal to facilitate collaboration and discussion among EAS countries with the support of the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), on ways in which governments can spur the development of natural gas markets that are open, transparent, competitive and resilient, and promote new technologies for the storage and efficient use of this clean energy resource. The Ministers noted that Japan will endeavour to formulate premarket policy options to ensure that gas markets operate efficiently for possible consideration of the next EAS ECTF meeting.

The Statement also recognised ERIA's work in developing the EAS Roadmap for Mid and Long-term Energy Policy Research in the eleventh paragraph:

The EAS Roadmap for Mid and Long-term Energy Policy Research

11. The Ministers noted the progress in the development of the EAS Roadmap for Mid and Long-term Energy Policy Research which aims to build a strong energy research capability in East Asia to support discussions on energy cooperation the EAS. The Ministers also appreciated the contributions of ERIA in developing such roadmap as well as in providing technical assistance to the EAS energy cooperation through its various energy policy research studies. The Ministers looked forward to the completion of the studies led by the Energy Research Institute Network (ERIN) in collaboration with ERIA.

Please click here to read the complete text of the Joint Ministerial Statement of the Tenth EAS Energy Ministers Meeting.

Bilateral Meetings

Prof Nishimura and Mr Kimura held bilateral meetings with

• The Minister of Mines and Energy (MME), Cambodia, to discuss ERIA's assistance on MME's energy policy and planning. The Minister also took the opportunity to thank ERIA for its continuous support to MME, and also put forward a new proposal for ERIA to support on the "transportation fuel mix, especially the guidelines and regulations of bioethanol blending."

• The Philippines' Energy Secretary to discuss ERIA's proposal of several deliverables to support the Philippines' ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017, including the EAS Energy Roadmap and East Asia Energy Forum.

• Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office of Brunei Darussalam to discuss Brunei's participation in Halal Expo Japan 2016 and ERIA's study of the development of Temburong into a 'smart city' or an 'eco town'.

• Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water of Malaysia to discuss ERIA's support on research regarding oil, gas, transportation, and particularly energy efficiency.

• Permanent Secretary of Electricity and Energy of Myanmar to discuss capacity building support for energy statistics, energy consumption, as well as the creation and use of energy database.

• Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Department of Energy, United States to discuss participation on the EAS Roadmap for Mid-and Long-term Energy Policy Research and US membership of ERIN.

• Deputy Director General, Energy Policy Planning Office, Energy Ministry of Thailand to discuss ongoing research projects and to propose a bilateral energy study.

• Director General, General Department of Energy, Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy to discuss the launching ceremony of Cambodia's first National Energy Statistics.

• Manager of Policy Research and Analytics Programme of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) to discuss areas in which ERIA and ACE can work together.

ERIA Energy Expert Presentation

ERIA's energy economists delivered their presentations at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum on 21-22 September 2016.

• Dr Venkatachalam Anbumozhi presented 'Prospects of Coal in Mitigating the Climate Change and Meeting the NDC Targets' in the seventh session discussing clean coal technology.

• Dr Yanfei Li presented the 'Development and Prospects in LNG Trade in ASEAN Region' in the third session discussing clean and affordable energy.

• Dr Han Phoumin presented 'Renewable and Financing Framework for Power Generation' in the sixth session discussing renewable energy.