COOPERATION WITH DIALOGUE PARTNERS

ASEAN welcomes cooperation with Dialogue Partners for the implementation of this energy action plan. This document shall be used as guide in identifying the areas of cooperation.

At present the most important dialogue partners of the ASEAN in the energy sector is the EU. This follows 10 years of EU's strong presence through the ASEAN-EC Energy Management Training and Research Centre (AEEMTRC). Most of the programmes pursued by this institution are being continued by ACE, AEEMTRC's successor organization. On-going projects are: 1. Joint ASEAN Minihydro Programme; 2. Promotion of Renewable Energy Systems in Southeast Asia; and 3. ASEAN-EU Advisory Panel on Energy.

In the pipeline are: 1. ASEAN Power Interconnection Programme/Masterplan Study; 2. Clean Coal Technology for Rural Electrification; 3. East Asian Growth Area Village Electrification Programme; and 4. 1999-2000 ACE Programme for Unspent AEEMTRC Fund.

With Switzerland, a non-EU country, a cooperation project is on-going in the form of technical assistance for the development and application of financing instruments for the Joint ASEAN Minihydro programme.

With Australia an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the project entitled AAECP Phase 3: Energy Policy and Systems Analysis Project started in March 1999 under the ASEAN-Australia Cooperation Programme.

To fully implement the strategies and actions required in this plan, efforts are being made to encourage energy cooperation with more dialogue partners. Project proposals are now being prepared for submission to the USA, Norway and Japan after preliminary discussions with relevant authorities in those countries.