The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have developed a set of policy recommendations that address energy efficiency opportunities, barriers and policy needs in Southeast Asia.
The recommendations come in the context of a decade of strong economic growth in Southeast Asia, where countries are now demonstrating increased political will to implement energy efficiency policies to curb the resulting rise in energy demand.
31 October 2014: The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have developed a set of policy recommendations that address energy efficiency opportunities, barriers and policy needs in Southeast Asia. The recommendations come in the context of a decade of strong economic growth in Southeast Asia, where countries are now demonstrating increased political will to implement energy efficiency policies to curb the resulting rise in energy demand.
Twenty recommendations were developed during a regional energy efficiency experts’ roundtable in Jakarta, Indonesia, hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, and are intended for ten countries of Southeast Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Viet Nam.
Divided into six areas, the recommendations relate to cross-sectoral issues, buildings, appliances and equipment, lighting, transport and industry.
On cross-sectoral aspects, the publication notes that barriers to energy efficiency investments faced by Southeast Asian countries are similar to those faced by other countries, and include: lack of information among stakeholders; subsidized energy prices; lack of experience and knowledge on energy efficiency technologies, benefits and risks among finance stakeholders; scarcity of affordable funding options; lack of technical capacity to implement projects; and lack of clarity over the division of labour between relevant agencies.
In order to scale up energy efficiency through cross-sectoral policies and measures and overcome these barriers, the roundtable participants recommended: development of a database on energy efficiency, including indicators; phasing out of energy price subsidies for all consuming sectors, except those serving welfare objectives; leveraging private investment; and designating lead institutions for planning, implementing and monitoring energy efficiency policies and programmes.
The project was financially supported by the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and the International Copper Association Southeast Asia (ICASEA). [REEEP Press Release] [Publication: Regional Energy Efficiency Policy Recommendations: Southeast Asia Region]