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The Ninth Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers on Energy Cooperation was held in Manila from 15-16 November 1990. The Meeting was preceded by a preparatory meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Energy Cooperation from 12-13 November 1990.
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The Meeting was opened by the Honorable Catalino Macaraig, Jr., Executive Secretary, Office of the President of the Philippines and Chairman of the Energy Coordinating Council of the Philippines.
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The Honorable Catalino Macaraig, Jr. expressed, in his inaugural address, deep appreciation for the willingness of the net oil exporting countries of ASEAN to help the country under the current situation of oil supply uncertainty caused by the Gulf crisis. However, he proposed that ASEAN should match this effort at sharing petroleum resources with more cooperation in alternative energy resources development. Fortunately, efforts in this regard have taken shape.
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Secretary Macaraig highlighted the country's benefits from the joint undertakings in coal, power development and manpower training through the ASEAN-EC Energy Management Training and Research Center. Finally, Secretary Macaraig shared with delegates the worldwide concern for the environment.
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The Meeting was attended by H.E. Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Dr. Haji Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Damit, Minister 'of Development of Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Mr. Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Mines and Energy of the Republic of Indonesia; H.E. Dato Seri S. Samy Velu, Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts of Malaysia; H.E. Mr. Wenceslao de la Paz, Executive Director, Office of Energy Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines; H.E. Mr. Mah Bow Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Communications and Information of the Republic of Singapore; and H.E. Mr. Prachuab Chaiyasan, Minister of Science, Technology and Energy of Thailand and their respective delegations.
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H.E. Mr. Rusli Noor, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat was also present.
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The Honorable Wenceslao R. de la Paz, Leader of the Philippine Delegation and H.E. Mr. Mah Bow Tan, Leader of the Singapore Delegation were unanimously elected Chairman and Vice - Chairman of the Meeting.
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The Ministers were briefed by H.E. Mr. Ginandjar Kartasasmita, Minister of Mines and Energy of Indonesia, on developments in OPEC.
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The Ministers noted with satisfaction a report on the activities of the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE).
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The Ministers approved the Programme of Action for the Enhancement of ASEAN Cooperation on Energy. The Programme of Action identified nine energy sectors for closer and enhanced cooperation in ASEAN, namely,/ Coal, Electricity Petroleum and Natural Gas, Geothermal Resources, New and Renewable Sources of Energy (NRSE), Energy Conservation, Energy and Environment, Research Development and Demonstration and Energy Policy and Planning.
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The Ministers agreed that the Programme of Action should serve as the basis for formulating energy projects for ASEAN cooperation and, that in implementing the activities within the framework of the Programme of Action, activities may be implemented even without the full participation of all member countries, following the example of economic cooperation among several ASEAN member countries such as the Growth Triangle involving Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
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The Ministers requested the Senior Energy Officials to regularly report, on a definitive basis, the progress on the implementation of activities under the Programme of Action to the Energy Ministers.
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The Ministers reviewed with satisfaction the progress of cooperation activities currently being implemented in the areas of Coal, New and Renewable Sources of Energy (NR E) and Power Utilities.
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The Ministers noted with satisfaction that the Second Intra-ASEAN Coal Workshop was successfully conducted in Kuching, Malaysia in September 1990 and that the Workshop encouraged the active participation of the ASEAN private sector in intra-ASEAN coal trade. They further noted that with the current situation in the international oil scene, coal would play an important role in providing the energy requirements of ASEAN countries.
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The Ministers agreed to hold the Third Intra-ASEAN Coal Workshop in the Philippines and that the Workshop should include discussions on environmental issues related to coal use.
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The Ministers also noted that a second Coal Cooperation Committee, namely between Thailand and Indonesia has been established in addition to the Philippine-Indonesia Coal Cooperation Committee.
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The Ministers requested the ASEAN Experts Group on Coal to study the possibility of ASEAN countries jointly marketing coal and in expanding the existing bilateral coal cooperation schemes into a region wide scheme.
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The Ministers agreed that the Trans-ASEAN Power Grid project be expanded and its implementation expedited to allow a greater exchange of power among all the ASEAN member countries.
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The Ministers agreed that the exchange of information on the energy conservation efforts of individual ASEAN member countries should be continued and undertaken on a regular basis.
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The Ministers agreed to hold the next meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers on Energy Cooperation in Singapore in 1991.
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The delegation of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the Philippines for the warm hospitality accorded them and the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting.
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The Meeting was held in the traditional ASEAN spirit of solidarity and cordiality.
