Among various priority areas for South-East Asia, sustainable connectivity is very critical, especially the energy connectivity. Energy underpins development and outcomes. South-East Asian countries looking ways to meet rising energy demand in a secure, affordable and sustainable manner. One of the ways is to look into collaborating with countries of East and North-East Asia. ESCAP can facilitate this initiative as the East and North-East Asia subregional office serves as the secretariat for the North-East Asia Regional Power Interconnection and Cooperation Forum (NEARPIC), the network of power agencies and institutions, to share information and build a common vision and strategy.
Overall, 92.7 per cent of the ASEAN region’s population has access, though challenges remain for several countries (ESCAP, 2017). The countries of ASEAN have demonstrated dramatic progress in their electrification efforts, with several achieving universal access. However, unserved populations still exist in more than half of the countries, and significant advancements are still required to achieve the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 7. However, in Cambodia and Myanmar, only about 50 per cent of the population has access to electricity. The energy demand is increasing as the increased in economic growth in the region. Southeast Asia’s overall energy demand grows by 60 per cent to 2040 (IEA, 2019).
Meeting rising energy demand and achieving universal access while ensuring energy sector development that is environmentally friendly, socially sound and economically feasible presents a significant challenge. East and North-East countries are not only advance in energy connectivity but also at the forefront at the green and clean energy development. Green power corridor concept of East and North-East Asia offers a vision for regional power system connectivity that supports sustainable development in particular SDG 7 (ESCAP, 2021). Promoting clean and renewable energy and developing necessary infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency and conservation also support the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2016- 2025 and in line with the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025. Intraregional energy connectivity between East and North-East Asian countries and South-East Asian countries can facilitate and strengthen overall regional economic cooperation and integration.
While there is shared recognition of countries in the region on the need for increased connectivity to harness the abundant sources of renewable energy and reduce the heavy reliance on fossil fuels, there are many obstacles to tackle to reach meaningful cooperation on cross-border power connectivity. This initiative could be part of the regional integration of power grids. Strengthening intraregional connectivity in energy can unlock the potential in the subregions to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as national socioeconomic goals.
References
ESCAP, 2017, Statistical Perspectives Energy and Development in the ASEAN Region, available at https://unescap.org/sites/default/d8files/knowledge-products/ASEAN%20Statistical%20Perspective_SEA_Booklet%202019.pdf.
ESCAP, 2021, Regional Power Grid Connectivity in North-East Asia: Policies and Strategies – Phase II Power Grid connectivity towards a “Green Power Corridor”, available at https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/d8files/event-documents/1-0_ESCAP.pdf.
IEA, 2019, Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2019 – Analysis, available at https://www.iea.org/reports/southeast-asia-energy-outlook-2019.