The ASCOPE Secretariat attended the Meeting with the delegation leaders of ASEAN countries, ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Energy Center, the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and partner countries (China, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, India, Russian Federation, USA, European Union).

Overview of the 38th ASEAN Senior Officials Online Meeting on Energy

 At the Meeting, Mr. Tran Hong Nam, ASCOPE Secretary General presented the strategic proposals and annual plans of the Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline Program in the overall ASEAN Action Plan on Energy for Phase 2 (2021-2025). Regarding the results of the Program achieved in 2020, ASCOPE Secretary General reported at the Meeting that total length of pipelines connecting 6 countries (Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam) was 3,673 km and nine LNG centers had a total capacity of 38.75 million tons/ year, an increase of 0.9 million tons/ year compared to 2019 because Myanmar has recently put one small-scaled LNG center into operation.

In addition, ASCOPE Secretary General reported the results of research on the use of LNG in marine transport that ASCOPE completed.

Mr. Tran Hong Nam, General Secretary of ASCOPE reported at the Meeting

According to the regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), from January 2020, emission standards will be applied to limit pollution from the marine transportation industry; accordingly, the maximum sulfur content of marine fuel consumed in sea areas will be reduced from 3.5% to 0.5%. The use of LNG fuel by sea transport means is considered as a long-term solution to comply with the above regulations.

Following the 38th ASEAN Senior Officials Online Meeting on Energy, ASCOPE Secretariat will continue to prepare contents for reporting to the Ministerial level at the 38th ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Energy held in November 2020 within the framework of ASEAN 2020 events led by Vietnam as Chairman.