DOE urges Asean cooperation on alternative energy sources

The Department of Energy (DOE) is urging member-nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to actively work in developing renewable energy and alternative fuel technologies within the region.

The DOE said a regional and bilateral cooperation to develop the needed expertise to manufacture renewable energy and alternative fuel technologies should be pursued.

"The ASEAN will do well to find its own niche in technology markets and application most relevant to our own resource endowments," Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said.

The said technologies are still evolving in the region, requiring cooperation among member nations to develop its own technology expertise and the manufacturing capacity.

"It may not only support national goals, we can even market these to the rest of the world," the energy official added.

During the 24th ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting in Laos last week, Lotilla called on China, Japan and Korea to set the pace for a massive sharing of technology in renewable energy in the region.

"It will achieve mutual commercial gains and to convincingly deliver the regional commitment to address climate change," he added.

In the same meeting, Lotilla proposed a more focused regional collaboration within ASEAN to accelerate the development and utilization of alternative fuels in order to minimize the effects of continuous increases in prices of imported and conventional energy as well as to address climate change concerns.

ASEAN was likewise asked to harmonize product and quality standards for biofuels and blends, as well as facilities such as refueling stations and conversion facilities especially for ethanol.

Thus in the event of local supply shortage of biofuels, ASEAN countries could easily import or export their products given the established common product and quality standards.