BANGKOK, June 10 (TNA) – Thailand is ready to host the 37th Senior Officials Meeting on Energy and Associated Meetings (The 37th SOME) on June 24-28 to expand a regional network for the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and boost energy efficiency and the consumption of renewable energy.
Kullit Sombatsiri, permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry, announced the readiness and said the meeting would discuss regional cooperation on energy and preparation for the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in September.
An objective of the 37th SOME is to discuss small-scaled infrastructures to support demand for LNG as it was predicted that ASEAN would import as high as 60 million tons of LNG annually in 2035. Half the projected import would come to Thailand, he said. At present, ASEAN consumed about 10 million tons of LNG yearly.
The meeting will also discuss ways to increase energy efficiency from the rate of 20% to 30% next year. The present rate is at 21.3%. Besides, it will look into solutions to raise the share of renewable energy to 23% next year, up from 13% currently.
In the meeting, Thailand will propose the expansion of multilateral electricity grids and the establishment of an ASEAN research center on bioenergy.
The meeting will gather representatives from ten ASEAN member states, dialogue partners including China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States and international organizations such as the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency.
“The SOME is aimed at developing a digital network of energy in ASEAN with Thailand as its center,” Mr Kulit said. (TNA)
