Technology and Infrastructure Partnership is Key to Energy Security

Energy, water and transport infrastructure are key to development. About 80 participants, including key senior energy officials from the Department of Energy, Philippines, officials from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade, Japan, private sector representatives and international organizations, participated in the Philippines Energy and Infrastructure Development Seminar held on 21 February 2014 in Manila, Philippines. The seminar was organized in two sessions. In the morning session, Dr. Han Phoumin, Energy Economist at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), gave the keynote address where he outlined the energy picture of the ASEAN and East Asia region, stressed the need for both hard and soft infrastructure investments, especially in the ASEAN Power Grids and the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipelines, and described the impact of unconventional shale gas on the region. He also explained ERIA's contribution to ASEAN's current initiatives on the ASEAN Power Grids wherein the full implementation of the ASEAN Inter-connectivity Master Plan by Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) could bring enormous savings of US$12.1 billion in generation cost through the use of the international power grids. This discussion was followed by thematic presentations by eminent professionals from Japan on oil and gas market regulations, access to renewable energy sources, and need for smart transport infrastructure development.

The afternoon discussion, on the other hand, focused on the Public-Private Partnership Models and investment environment that exist in the region and the applicability of such models for the Philippines.