Strengthening Emerging Asia's Power Sector

Needs, Requirements, and Potential Roles for East Asia Summit Engagement

In partnership with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia and the Energy Research Institute Network, NBR hosted two virtual workshops on January 20 and 21, 2021. This invitation-only virtual event, titled “Strengthening Emerging Asia’s Power Sector: Needs, Requirements, and Potential Roles for East Asia Summit Engagement,” was based out of Tokyo.

Growth in electricity demand in South and Southeast Asia is among the fastest in the world. Yet questions remain about how countries across this region might be able to individually or collectively meet their demand requirements while navigating complex economic, environmental, and energy security considerations. Major market shifts, such as the shale revolution in the United States and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, have had a profound impact on the availability and affordability of a range of energy supply options. However, capitalizing on these opportunities is often deeply constrained by rigid, opaque, and uncompetitive energy markets (particularly for natural gas and LNG); unresponsive energy pricing arrangements; weak and inadequate transmission infrastructure; and the need to broadly strengthen energy sector policymaking, governance, and technical and local capacity. How might stakeholders from across the region come together to address these issues, and what specific facilitating roles can fora such as the EAS play in this process?

Agenda

Download the full agenda and speaker bios.

Day One

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Alison SZALWINSKI, The National Bureau of Asian Research
Clara GILLISPIE, The National Bureau of Asian Research

POWERING EMERGING ASIA: SUPPLY AND DEMAND OUTLOOKS AND PATHS FORWARD

Setting the Scene
Shigeru KIMURA, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia

Moderator
Ashley JOHNSON, The National Bureau of Asian Research

Speakers
Weerawat CHANTANAKOME, Ministry of Energy, Thailand
Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan
Courtney WEATHERBY, Stimson Center

RESOURCING THE TOOKLIT:
BUILDING TECHNICAL AND HUMAN CAPACITIES FOR POWER SECTOR TRANSFORMATION

Moderator
Tom CUTLER, Cutler International

Speakers
Mandira ADHIKARI, Nepal Electricity Authority
Nofri DAHLAN, Solar Research Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA
HAN Phoumin, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia

Day Two

MOBILIZING ENERGY SECTOR INVESTMENTS

Moderator
Mikkal E. HERBERG, The National Bureau of Asian Research; University of California-San Diego

Speakers
Saleh ABDURRAHMAN, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia
Venkatachalam ANBUMOZHI, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia
Nao KAWAKAMI, Japan Bank for International Cooperation
Twarath SUTABUTR, Ministry of Energy, Thailand,

CRAFTING THE CALL TO ACTION

Moderator & Presenter
Clara GILLISPIE, The National Bureau of Asian Research

Event Co-hosts