Jakarta, 23-26 January 2024: ERIA and the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) hosted a four-day working group meeting on the preparation of an energy outlook and energy saving potential analysis in the East Asia region. The meeting was conducted in a hybrid setting for all representatives from Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Viet Nam.

On the first day, Shigeru Kimura, Special Advisor to the President on Energy Affairs, Energy Unit of ERIA, and Leader of the Working Group, opened the meeting and set out the progress of the East Asia Summit (EAS) Energy Outlook Report 2022-2023 and an update of the EAS Energy Outlook Report 2023-2024, including the improved modelling scheme of low-carbon energy transition–carbon neutral (LCET-CN) and its new estimations.

Dr Han Phoumin, Senior Energy Economist of the Energy Unit of ERIA and Sub-leader of the Working Group, introduced the publishing of the EAS Energy Outlook Report 2021-2022. ERIA Working Group Members of the report then presented the carbon neutral pathways of each country, from power generation to final energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and cost implications of the LCET scenario.

Cecilya L Malik, ASEAN Energy Expert, presented the study results of New Zealand, whose representatives were unable to attend the meeting. At the end of the session, Dr Han Phoumin presented a lecture on the correct understanding of carbon capture storage (CCS) and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS).

On the second day, working group representatives of the remaining countries – Singapore, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and Myanmar – presented their carbon neutral pathways from the Energy Outlook Report. Cecilya L Malik then discussed the dataset delivery to ASEAN members for the re-estimation of existing energy demand formulas using MICROFIT.

Dr Alloysius Joko Purwanto, Energy Economist, Energy Unit, Research Department, ERIA, spoke on the correct understanding of hydrogen and fuel ammonia. Dr Ryo Eto (IEEJ) then introduced the IEEJ World/Asia Energy Outlook, with the focus on carbon neutrality in the Asia region.

Citra Endah Nur Setyawati, Research Associate, Energy Unit, Research Department, ERIA, presented the International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook with the focus on global carbon neutrality. Leong Siew Meng, Managing Consultant, Green Tech Solutions PLT, Malaysia, then presented the energy saving perspective in EAS countries. Shamim Ahmad, Assistant Director, DCCEEW Australia, discussed energy policy analysis.

On the third and fourth day, working group members from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Indonesia attended the hands-on exercise on re-estimation of existing energy demand formulas, led by Cecilya L Malik. This exercise included the MICROFIT and LEAP workshop on energy demand and analysis of the industry, transport, residential, and commercial sectors. Closing the final session, Shigeru Kimura presented the way forward and contents of the EAS Energy Outlook Report 2023-24.

The members of the working group were Atul Kumar, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India; Clara E. Gillispie, National Bureau of Asian Research, the United States; Davanhny Xaneth, Department of Energy Policy and Planning, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR; Heang Theangseng, Department of Energy Development, General Department of Energy, Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), Cambodia; Hien Dieu Thi Dang, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, New Zealand; Hui Li, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, China; Kyung-Jin Boo, Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea; Lilibeth Morales, Department of Energy, the Philippines; Nguyen Minh Bao, Institute of Energy, Viet Nam; Dr Ryo Eto, IEEJ, Japan; Shamim Ahmad, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia; Shigeru Kimura, ERIA; Suharyati Nugroho, National Energy Council, Indonesia; Supit Kamklad, Ministry of Energy, Thailand; Swe Swe Than, Oil and Gas Planning Department, Ministry of Energy of Myanmar; Zaharin Zulkifli, Energy Commission, Malaysia; Zhong Sheng, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore.