Posted October 1997

AEEMTRC-COGEN-RWEDP institutional cooperation

AEEMTRC, COGEN and RWEDP are all involved in biomass energy in the ASEAN region. The three organisations have complementary strengths and have agreed to co-operate in various aspects of their work. A Memorandum of Understanding formalises their cooperation on information relating to wood and biomass energy. The cooperation of other institutions with similar interests is invited.

Acknowledging the need for improved data, common policies and concerted action, the objectives of the present Memorandum of Understanding are to:

• Integrate wood and biomass energy information into energy data bases;
• Identify data gaps which limit the integration of wood/biomass energy considerations into long-term development programmes;
• Identify data collection activities which countries need to undertake to fill these data gaps;
• Assist in the development of sustainable energy policies.

AEEMTRC, COGEN and RWEDP seek advice and guidance on the following questions:

• How can ASEAN Member Countries further benefit from biomass energy projects and programmes in the region?
• What specific needs for further action exist?
• How should reporting to ASEAN Ministers on Energy and Senior Officials on Energy be arranged?

ASEAN-EC Energy Management Training and Research Centre

AEEMTRC is based in Jakarta. The objectives are to further enhance the cooperation between the seven ASEAN countries, and to strengthen the political, economic and commercial links between the ASEAN and the European Union in the field of energy. AEEMTRC is guided by a Project Steering Committee composed of Senior Officials on Energy (SOE's) from the respective governments and an EC representative.

In 1996 the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) decided that AEEMTRC be transformed into an ASEAN energy centre, with effect from January 1999. The centre will be placed under the auspices of the AMEM and the SOE Leaders. The mission is to accelerate the integration of energy strategies within ASEAN to ensure over the long-term the necessary energy development in harmony with the economic growth and the environmental sustainability.

EC-ASEAN COGEN Programme

The COGEN Programme is an economic cooperation programme between the European Commission (EC) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) co-ordinated by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok. Its aim is to accelerate the implementation of proven technologies generating heat and/or power from wood and agro-industrial residues through partnerships between European and South-East Asian companies.

In a short period of time, the COGEN Programme has established references of European and Euro-ASEAN equipment in selected wood and agro-industries in ASEAN. It is now involved in the promotion of reference projects, thus forging closer links between European suppliers and ASEAN customers and partners. The Programme is currently involved in the implementation of over US$ 100 million worth of Euro-ASEAN biomass energy equipment.

FAO Regional Wood Energy Development Programme in Asia

RWEDP is a long-term project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The project is funded by the Government of The Netherlands and based in Bangkok. RWEDP has 16 member-countries in Asia, including 5 ASEAN Member Countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam), as well as 3 incoming ASEAN Member Countries (Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar).

RWEDP focuses on wood/biomass energy and aims to:

1. strengthen institutional capacities for databases

2. assist in policies and planning

3. develop capabilities for implementing programmes. Main areas of expertise are wood energy resource development, wood energy conservation, and wood energy planning and policy development.